2 Turtle Doves - The Bruery

UCLABrewN84

California

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Bottle pour for the Bruery Initiation Celebration held at The Phoenix Club in Anaheim, CA.

Pours a clear crimson-brown with a foamy beige head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, and a really unique peanut butter and jelly combo. Taste is much the same with a fruity flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with a great smell and some tasty flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 18:02:33 | More by UCLABrewN84

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle pours a very dark brown color with a thin, bubbly off-white head. Spotty lace and not much retention.

Nose is raisins, plums, brown sugar and allspice. The cocoa nibs and nuttiness come out more as it warms, but I am not sure I would have picked them out had I not read the label.

Taste is sweet and boozy with lots of dark fruit. Yeast flavors abound, doughy even. This is a perfect example of a beer being much better as it approaches room temperature. When cold, this beer is a wreck but it really opens up and the cocoa flows with the dark fruit very well after a bit. Good beer, Id love to have another bottle of this…it seemed like it could benefit from a few more years still.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 20:34:28 | More by twiggamortis420

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Drank at Jackie O's 3/1/2013.

Pours a rich chocolate dark brown with a thick coffee head.

Smells of cocoa, nuts, complex and rich dark malt.

Taste is similar but even better. So rich and creamy, loads of chocolate, nuts, maybe some faint fruit, rich and complex and delicious

Mouthfeel is insanely light and creamy. Amazing.

This is a fantastic beer, even better than I remembered!

8.8/10

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 22:17:23 | More by AlexFields

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to eagles22 for the random sharing of this brew. Thanks Ed! 750ml into a matching Bruery snifter. It appears black in color with a big brown head 4 fingers strong and khaki in color. It leaves thick patchy lace sticking to the glass and a light swirl revives a finger easily. Light brown clarity is noted around the edges when held to the light.

The smell is nutty with roasty grain and raisins. There is a touch of something reminescent of oxidation but it blends nicely with hints of dry cocoa and the nutty aspects. There is a dark fruity alcohol element also present across the back.

The taste is bitter with cocoa. Lots of nutty flavors almost like walnuts and a bit of oxidative cardboard character blended with raisins. Some dark candy sugar mixes with hints of citrus. Fruity alcohol esters become increasingly noticeable as it warms.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. Still a bit boozy but well integrated and very warming. The unique ingrediants really blend together here with an interesting mix of character. I really enjoyed this and would certainly be entertained having it again around the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 18:22:46 | More by stakem

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.78/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep dark brown/black color with a huge bubbly tan head that persists for a while before capping the top. Smells of chocolate, dark fruits like raisins and plums, a bit of caramel and burnt sugar, and a touch of earth and alcohol. The flavor is caramel and dark fruity with a solid shot of chocolate and a surprising amount of alcohol. The pecans come out in the flavor, but they seem a bit bitter if that's possible. Medium to thick body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet bubbly slick mouthfeel. I tried this on tap when it first came out and loved it although I thought it was quite hot. I was hoping that some age had tamed the heat but it is still quite present in the flavor. Its still a nice beer though, I wish I could have gotten a BA bottle, but oh well.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 23:35:44 | More by johnnnniee

Treebs

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 ml bottle served in a Deschutes tulip. Big thanks to Kevin (khumbard) for the share.

A: Pours a dark brown color with a frothy light tan head forming on the pour. Sticky sheets of lace are left around the glass.

S: Nice belgian yeast with some buggle gum and sweet, fruity esters. Nice spices in the periphery with a big bready and doughy malt body.

T: A touch of oxidation is showing itself with the age. Nice spices (nutmeg mostly) and fruity esters are still present along with some sweet yeasty notes. The malts are pretty amped up here comparitively to the nose. Very heavy, almost meaty in nature. Like meat casing for a sausage. Odd, but it works here.

M: Medium bodied with a medium to low carbonation. Would have a like a touch more carbonation at this point, but with it being over two years old I can't really complain too much.

O: The nose still had some great life to it, but the taste had unfortunately began to be taken over by the malts and slight oxidation. Drink 'em if got 'em, or just hold on to them until it's undrinkable if you plan on waiting for the 8 other beers to be released.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 18:24:15 | More by Treebs

rapidsequence

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle. Its been waiting in the cellar for an unimportant night like tonight for almost three years (I think it came out prior to Christmas 2009).

Apperance: Very dark brown, almost black. Little light passes. Light brown head with good retention and some lacing.

Smell: Big time chocolate and much more nutty aroma than I thought would come through from the toasted pecans. The more standard plum, raisin, etc dark fruit smells of a BSDA are there in large quantities, but behind the cocoa. Its a little bit of a weird combination. I smell no alcohol.

Taste: The flavor integrates better than the smell. It really works well. Again lots of chocolate and nutty flavor with a solid dark fruity, yeasty BSDA backbone. Sweet, almost cakelike. I really like it.

Mouthfeel: Its a pretty big mouthfeel, very soft and smooth carbonation, a little creamy.

Overall: This surprised me. Definitely a success. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 00:48:44 | More by rapidsequence

mdaschaf

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

HUGE thanks to James for hooking me up with this bottle!

A: Pours a deep brown color with a tan color head on top that reduces to a bunch of rather large bubbles on top. Very thin sheets of lacing form on the sides.

S: Some sweet dark fruit up front, raisins, figs, and plums. There is a bit of dark chocolate and a little bit of roasted malt. The nuts come through as well. Finishes with dark fruit.

T: Lots of the nutty/pecan flavor come through right away and mixes with some cocoa and dark fruit. Some sweet raisins and figs as well as some caramelized malt round it out. The dark fruit is rather sweet, almost like fruit cake sweet. Surprised at how nutty it is, but not in a bad way.

M: Full bodied with medium carbonation. Rather smooth. The 12% has died down a bit, doesn't really show its face.

O: Liked it a good bit. Probably my favorite in the series (compared to 3 and 4).

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 02:32:39 | More by mdaschaf

ngeunit1

California

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a cloudy deep brown with a touch of ruby mixed in and a finger of frothy chocolate colored head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some good lace.

S - Aroma is full of rich sweet dark fruits with raisin and dates, with some strong cocoa, some Belgian yeast character, toasted pecans, vanilla, and a touch of booze.

T - Starts off with some rich dark fruits with some raisins and dates, some rich caramelized malts, cocoa, and some toasted pecans. Through the middle, some stronger cocoa flavor comes through with some more caramelized malt, vanilla, and some Belgian yeast flavors. The finish is a mix of chocolate malts, dark fruits, toasted nuts, Belgian yeast, and a bit of booze.

M - Full bodied with mild carbonation. Feels smooth with syrupy, sweet, and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. Super rich and bold. The pecans and chocolate flavors are a really nice addition to the BSDA.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 03:41:47 | More by ngeunit1

scottfrie

California

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle into snifter.

A: Pours a very dark brown with a finger of dark khaki head that quickly faded into a wispy film leaving a few spots of lace down the glass.
S: Chocolate and cocoa dominates with rich and roasted scents. I get a hint of boozy vapor, roasted malts, caramel, and maybe a toasted nuttiness.
T: An expert blend between rich semisweet chocolate flavor and roasted and toasted nutty flavors. I get a hint of sweet dark fruits such as raisins and dates, and the finish is full of vanilla. Flavors are sweet, malty and roasted overall. Tastes a bit like those Nips candies.
M: Thinner mouth than I was expecting but I have to remind myself this isn’t a stout. The mouth actually is pretty thick and heavy, but the body is a bit watery. The carbonation is also rather low which adds to the slickness of the mouthfeel. I’m really just splitting hairs though, this beer is crazy smooth and easy to drink. Alcohol is completely masked.
O: Better than I remember it being when I had my first bottle over a year ago. This is a smooth drinker and rich at that.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 20:09:23 | More by scottfrie

andrewinski1

Maine

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip. The color is very dark brown. There is a small light tan fluffy head. At first glance, this may look like a stout. 3.5

When I take a whiff I get chocolate and vanilla. Then I take another whiff and I get more of the Belgian yeast with some fruity cherry. 4.5

The taste is very heavy on the fruity yeast. There are nice cherry flavors with some creamy chocolate in the finish. 4.0

This drinks medium bodied with smooth carbonation. 4.0

This is really good. I'm excited to try the barrel version next week. 4.0

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 03:19:13 | More by andrewinski1

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled December 2011
A vigorous pour produces an initially two finger thick, darkly amber stained, tan colored head. The beer is a concentrated amber-brown color that shows quite opaque when held up to the light. The nose smells of dark fruit, concentrated caramelized and toasted malt and even a rich toasted nuttiness; there is almost a woodiness here that is perhaps nut or perhaps malt derived (I don’t think it is from actual oak or some other wood). There is a bitter, dark / roasted edge to this beer that is just barely there; is it from the cocoa, or is it malt derived, it is too subtle for me to be sure. As the beer warms up a touch of chocolate, some definite toffee, and a raisin / prune like note become a bit more noticeable in the aroma

The beer is quite sweet tasting up front, there is a touch of barely prickly carbonation, a whole lot of rich, chewy and viscous heft to the body, but the finish has a touch of bitterness that seems roast derived, perhaps a hint of fruity tartness and some toasted grain husk like character that provides a touch of a foil to the up-front sweetness. Deeply caramelized malt flavors remind me of toffee, a date and raisin like fruitiness and a definite molasses or brown sugar like note. There is a general nuttiness that is fairly expressive and toasted quality to this beer, though it could in theory all be malt derived (I wouldn’t specifically guess that nuts were used in the making of this beer). The alcohol provides some warming and even some spice / heat to the finish, though it does not get overly hot or detracting. Cocoa notes combine, boost, and accentuate the nuttiness here; this almost has a sweetened, brown butter like flavor to it somehow. There is an almost smokiness to this brew; most of it is likely contributed by a touch of yeast derived phenolics and there is also perhaps a touch of spiciness, though the yeast most noticeably comes through in the ample, dark fruit character that forms the core of this beer. This is quite the sipping brew, it is sweet, even somewhat cloying at times, it really has a density to it as it rests / clings to the palate; this is a beer to be sipped in small quantities over an evening for sure.

I really like the rich, yet subdued nuttiness that is in this brew; it plays really well with the rich malt and helps to balance the big sweetness that this beer has. The nuttiness, when combined with the fruitiness, and sweetness, seems to remind me quite a bit of amaretto even. This is a bit too sweet, surely some years of age will help with this immensely though; this is likely a beer that will easily go the distance; with more nuttiness and sherry notes that come with age and help to temper the sweetness, this will likely be drinking quite divinely within about 4 years and perhaps even to 2020, or whenever this is supposed to last to. I definitely think this beer will actually improve quite a bit with some more age on it, though I wonder what piquancy it has lost in the two years since its release.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 02:42:21 | More by Gueuzedude

ehammond1

California

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle (2009)

Downtown Johnny Brown's
San Diego, CA

(Aged for 2 years)

Murky dark brown pour with dark ruby edges and a moderately sized dark khaki colored head that leaves the glass messy with sticky lace.

A nice combination of aromas including candied pecans and chocolate. I'm surprised at how defined, authentic, and delicious the pecan aroma comes through in the aroma. There's also lots of dark fruit character, like fig and black cherry.

The candied pecans make up a big portion of the flavor profile as well, with dark chocolate and black cherry flavors complementing it nicely. Impressive and delicious. There is a touch of oxidation, but it doesn't necessarily harm this beer. Zero alcohol presence.

Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.

Very glad I got to try this one and happy it's held up as well as it has.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 16:39:26 | More by ehammond1

mcgwire756

New Jersey

4.47/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Haven't reviewed a beer officially in a while, but this has been a big want of mine along with the barrel aged version so I thought I would review it.

The appearance is murky brown with little head and almost no lacing.

The smell is of milk chocolate at first and then a little bit of dark fruit and burnt sugar.

Taste is more of the dark fruit like most Belgian Dark beers along with a little bit of the nutty characteristic it is supposed to have.

The mouthfeel is where this beer shines as it is very creamy and then almost not sticky taste at all which I was expecting. It allows you to drink this beer as fast as you want which is dangerous since it is 12%.

Overall it is the smoothness of this beer that makes it for me. I am not sure if it is the age or the fact that this beer is different from most in this series. It is not spicy like the 4 Calling Birds or pungent like the 3 French Hens. Overall it is a winner for me and I can't wait to crack my BA version of it soon.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 01:31:26 | More by mcgwire756

phichifiji00

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: Black, 3 inches of thick tan head that fades very slowly. Lots of lacing.

Smell: caramel, nutty, cocoa, sweet, a bit boozy, estery.

Taste: chocolate, nutty, pecans, caramel, slightly boozy, malty, a hint of roasted malt, anise.

Mouthfeel: full bodied, moderate carbonation, silky, creamy.

Overall: A great beer. The toasted pecans and cocoa nibs shine and pair well with the base beer. Well balanced. Very drinkable. The 12% ABV is well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 19:17:46 | More by phichifiji00

GregSVT

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml capped bottle into a snifter - thanks to fatmcb1 for sharing this bottle!

A: Pours a dark brown with ruby highlights and a nice tan head...very little lacing as it recedes to a ring.

S: The nose has notes of slight chocolate, pecan/nutty aromas, vanilla, dark fruits, and a belgian/wine like smell.

T: The taste is a lot like the nose but a bit boozier. Nice flavors of dark fruits, pecans/nuts, vanilla, and some cocoa.

M: The feel is on the lighter side of medium and a bit drying on the finish.

O: While this was a good tasting beer it's not the best BSDA I've ever had. I'd love to try the barrel aged version though.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 03:22:55 | More by GregSVT

mdfb79

New York

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From 12/25/11 notes. Drank this, 3 French Hens, and 4 Calling Birds in a row. Think I liked this one the most, though 4 Calling Birds was close (for different reasons).

a - Pours a dark mahogany brown color with one finger of tan head and moderate carbonation evident. Some light lacing left on the glass and a minute or so of head retention. Looks pretty good, surprised how carbonated it looks.

s - Smells of cherries, chocolate, roasted malts, spices, bready malts, and light caramel. Not getting any nuts or pecans.

t - Tastes of cherries, dark fruits, chocolate, roasted malts, light spice, toasted malts, and bready malts. taste is sweet but not too sweet, and has more chocolate than the nose. A tiny step up from the nose.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Very smooth and creamy, and very easy to drink for 12% ABV.

o - Overall a beer that has held up very well. I didn't have it fresh, but it is drinking pretty nice right now, and I'd guess it holds up well for a few more years (not sure about 8). Would have it again, may crack it again in 2 Christmas' or so.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 19:27:20 | More by mdfb79

fatmcb1

Texas

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a Lost Abbey snifter.

Pours a brownish amber color with a creamy head that left ample lacing on the glass, particularly considering the abv.

Aroma was a bit muted. Plenty of belgian spice and dark fruit. Also, a bit of caramel malt. Couldn't really get any nuts or pecan.

The taste has plenty of spice, as did the nose, but the brown sugar and malt was very overpowering. Also, there was a bit of tart flavor that surprised. Dark fruit was not as apparent as in the nose.

Carbonation was rich and prickly. Body was average of the style.

I was a bit surprised by the tart flavor that the beer had. Overall, decent, but not the Bruery's finest.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 23:01:42 | More by fatmcb1

zoolzoo

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours what appears to be a turbid brown color, but is actually almost ruby red when held to the light. A two finger cream colored head forms.

S: Aroma is spicy yeast, dark fruit, maybe some nuttiness. A little vague, hard to pin point anything much more specific.

T: Much improved from the aroma. A sour cherry note is present. Mid sip reveals plenty of depth and complexity. Sugar coated dark fruits, almonds, cocoa powder. The flavor just hangs and hangs, and finally finishes like a booze soaked chocolate pasty or something.

M: Pretty thick in body, though some prickly carbonation carries things along nicely.

O: A one of a kind beer. Drinking pretty well currently, perfect for the holiday season.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 21:26:48 | More by zoolzoo

waltonc

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pulled this out of the cellar to celebrate the start of the holiday season. Pours dark brown with a creamy tan head. Smells and tastes better than I remember it when fresh - as advertised, there's lots of cocoa and toasted pecans. The last time i had this two years ago, I didn't think the pecan element worked as well, but either my tastes have changed or the pecans have integrated very nicely. Body is medium and very smooth and creamy on the palate. Carbonation is very fine and perfect for this beer.

Overall, this is my favorite of the series so far. I feel like this can age for a while yet.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 14:40:15 | More by waltonc

DaveHS

California

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours obsidian with burgundy highlights and a thin, light khaki head.

S-Intense milk chocolate and caramel. The pecans are also in full effect. Can't smell much else.

T/M-Oh man. Age has been kind to this one. I liked it fresh, but this has matured into something spectacular. Thin, fruity sweetness cuts through layers of roasty chocolate malt and flavors of burnt sugar, toasted pecans and caramel. The body has thinned out, carbonation is significantly lower than when I had it fresh. The finish is warming, with mouth coating sweetness and a subtle note of dry hops.

O-I'm tasting a touch of tart oxidation on the back end. I think this might go another year at most. So much for the 12 days of Christmas. In any case, I think this (and the bourbon version) are the best beers The Bruery have made to date.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 02:02:04 | More by DaveHS

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark brown with a nice creamy head that sticks around. Aromas of dark chocolate, a slight sourness, some spice, and a bit of nuttiness. The taste is very mysterious and complex, with cacao notes up front, then a touch of heat that seems all the world like cayenne pepper, followed by a tangy, nutty pecan note. A fair undercurrent of light sourness throughout. Very smooth in the mouth and quite creamy. Strong, delicious, unexpected flavors, complex notes- very nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 01:55:59 | More by Georgiabeer

superspak

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into goblet. Pours deep dark brown color with a 1 finger tan head with great retention, that reduces to a lacing cap that lasts. Thick lacing clings to the glass as well. Aromas of huge dark chocolate, toffee, molasses, caramel, dark fruits, roasted malt, and nuttiness. Slight bit of alcohol in there, but not too noticeable. Wow, fantastic aromas here, tons of complexity going on Taste of huge caramel, toffee, chocolate, dark fruits, roasted malts, molasses, nuttiness, and a bit of booze in the back. There are lingering notes of big caramel, chocolate, and molasses after the finish for a decent amount of time. Decent amount of alcohol warming after the finish, with a small amount in the taste as well. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied. Fairly smooth drinkability for 12%, but definitely something I am taking my time on to finish. Best enjoyed very slowly because the alcohol and sweetness gets a bit cloying. Overall, this is an excellent Belgian Strong Dark ale, plenty of great complexity and huge flavor and fairly smooth drinking.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2011 23:48:49 | More by superspak

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice, opaque brown color was evident from the start with a rich looking hazelnut tone to it. The head finally calmed down after about twenty minutes but still dropped tons of foam and lace along the glass.

The aroma was very nice, a little bit ruddy at first. Hints of chcoalte and caramel, rich belgian spice and a wonderful bit of dark fruit all dancing around wonderfully inside of it. But it was once I took a sip that everything really came together for me. A wave of cascading brown sugar and tart apples just rolled across the tongue. Enormously rich and vigorous, this was just a wonderful thing to behold. Nice touches of chocolate and rich toffee like notes were all balanced well in advance of a lovely dark fruit tone that led the charge once the yeast kicked in. Nice notes of prunes and rasins, hints of plums and dark cherries were all very much evident in the profile. The carbonation was spot on, as the rich, velvet like bubbles converged on the tongue and added to the prickly pepper like spices that lasted long into the finish. Smooth as silk with almost all the alcohol very well hidden, this was certainly a gem.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 16:17:32 | More by mikesgroove

leschkie

California

4.68/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked this one up at Perry's in Livermore around Easter. All it took was a quick glance at the label and this beer had me hook, line, and sinker: Belgian-style dark ale, cocoa nibs, toasted pecans. Hell yeah.

Bruery-standard 750 mL bottle poured into a tulip.

Appearance: Pours a very dark amber, like the color one sees in a high-sugar-density syrup obtained when evaporating the sap of a Vermont dark maple. Tiny air bubbles eventually find their way to the surface to form a thin ring which, in all honesty, has me a little worried about the carbination of this one. Definitely not typical in a traditional a Belgian dark. Broken strands of lace scattered across the glass.

Smell: Sweet! (in both a literal and figurative sense of the word). One whiff and this one already had my sweet tooth and taste buds all riled up. The best that Belgium has to offer: candied dark fruits (raisins and figs), bruised banana, breads, dark caramel malts, carmalized turbinado sugar along with a blast of pecans and chocolate, as promised. If this beer tastes as sweet as it smells, I better start putting money away now for my next dental appointment cause I'm going to have some cavities that need filling.

Taste: Alright Bruery, the jig is up. How the hell did you know I always have a piece of chocolate hazelnut cake with my Belgian darks? Well, regardless, thank you saving me a trip to Ester's German Bakery because this beer gives me the best of both worlds in one shot. Every flavor identified in the aroma can be detected by my taste buds, and my taste buds are thanking me at this exact moment. Not to mention my dentist as well.

Mouthfeel: My suspicions were spot on. The lack of carbination in the pour unfortunately equated to more or less a "flat" feel in the mouth. The only thing saving this beer in this particular category is the sticky and chewy sensation I got while rolling it off my tongue. The sensational flavors that lingered in my taste buds following the swallow didn't hurt either.

Overall: If there ever was such a thing as a "guilty pleasure" with respect to beer, this one is at the top of the list for me. I simply just don't know how to explain it. Normally I don't like my beers too sweet, but this one just worked. If you see this one lying around in your bottle shop, GET IT. You won't be disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 17:30:48 | More by leschkie