2 Turtle Doves
The Bruery

2 Turtle Doves2 Turtle Doves
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
The Bruery
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #53
ABV:
12%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,364
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 11.11%
Reviews:
269
Ratings:
485
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 24, 2023
Added:
Oct 12, 2009
Wants:
  190
Gots:
  263
2 Turtle Doves is the second in the 12 Days/Years of Christmas Series. We decided to take our inspiration from the name and base the beer on the "turtle" candy, brewing it with cocoa nibs, toasted pecans, caramelized sugar and a lot of caramel malts. Somewhere between a Belgian-style Dark Strong Ale and an Imperial Porter, this beer is designed to take the journey through time until 12 Drummers Drumming.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by beerad666:
Photo of beerad666
Reviewed by beerad666 from Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
The 2 Turtle Doves pours our a dark chestnut, almost espresso with a very thin tan head, that quickly resides. Just a little lacing on the glass which seems about right for such a high alcohol beer. As this beer warms up the alcohol in the nose is more pronounced. There are some nice dried fruit smells, maybe dates of figs; along with toasted malts and chocolate and a hint of carmel. This is the type of beer that you just want to taste to see what else is going on. And when you finally do, the taste is fantastic! That sweet dried fruit comes through right away but there is also that rich chocolate flavor, not a sweet chocolate but a roasted nutty chocolate. Finally a light alcohol in the finish to warm you up inside. Although the alchol comes out it isn't a burn instead it's very smooth and leaves a nutty and woody taste in your mouth. A well balanced beer throughout. Definitely unique and makes for a perfct holiday beer for yourself or as a gift.
Dec 03, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of colts9016
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review: 1983
Name: 2 Turtle Doves
Brewery: The Bruery
Location: Placentia, CA
Style: Belgium Dark Ale
ABV: 10.6%
Date: 30 Sept 2021
I am drinking 2 Turtle Doves today using a Chalice glass. I served it at 48 degrees. The pour created a creamy, frothy, one-fingered, tan head with above-average retention. The color is dark brown, with reddish hues, charting around SRM 32. The beer is semi-opaque. The slow dissipation left some lacing on the glass. The appearance is above average for this style.
The initial aromas are bready, cloves, oranges, nutmeg, and allspice. Nosing the glass again, I smell caramel, nuttiness, chocolate, light char, phenols, yeasty, white pepper, soft floral, and dried cherries. Intriguing aromas do not quite follow a Dark Belgian style.
I was not expecting that; I was looking for phenols, yeast, and spice. I did get that, but I got a whole lot more. Dark chocolate, oranges, cloves, caramel, soft floral esters, allspice, nutty, bready, toasted malts, and dried cherries. It comes across as a Belgian style with a twist.
The mouthfeel is tannic and finishes warm. The body is medium-plus, and the carbonation is medium.
This is a unique take on a Belgian beer. The more I sip the beer, the more I am enjoying it. How should I rate this? It has all the qualities of Belgian but is less potent. Nonetheless, the beer is tasty, and I will enjoy it.
Dec 24, 2023
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

4.26/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
750mL (original 2009 vintage) into a chalice/goblet. Pours a clear cola brown with a soft mocha head, good carbonation sustains a steady film of foam on the surface.

Aroma is fruity, malty, and sweet. Brown sugar, figs, dates, vanilla, caramel. All the hallmarks of a dark Belgian/quad.

Taste is likewise sweet with tons of brown sugar, molasses, and dark stone fruits. Bready malt, vanilla, black cherries, chocolate. A subtle sour aspect comes in as it warms, slightly vinous.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, made somewhat lighter by the lively carbonation. Very drinkable at 12%.

Overall, not surprisingly, a solid offering from the Bruery that seems to have aged as intended. An excellent rendition of the style.
Sep 02, 2023
Photo of SHODriver
Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Poured into a snifter to what is essentially a black beer. The beer is topped by a dense and slightly rocky finger of light tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of dark fruits and sugary sweetness with some hints of spicy yeast influence. Hints of chocolate and pecans as well
T: Taste is dark fruits, dark chocolate, pecans, spicy yeast, a hint of leather, and caramel. Decent balance between sweet and savory. On the finish there's more dark fruits, pecans, spice, sugary sweetness and lingering chocolate.
M: This beer has a body which is on the heavier side of medium with a slightly creamy feel. Carbonation is lightly effervescent and adequate for the style while the beer has a drying finish due to the ABV.
O: Overall this is a fun one. Really nice flavors and complexity while also being deceptively easy to drink at nearly 12% ABV.
Aug 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by Ananabiya

Apr 04, 2023
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

3.71/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
pours Brillant reddish brown , a lot of flavor , quite heavy beer to drink , share with a friend
Feb 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Feb 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.27 by minterro from California

Mar 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by mpenske from California

Feb 26, 2022
 
Rated: 4.35 by irishevans from California

Feb 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.24 by faraday326 from California

Jan 31, 2022
Photo of 86sportster883
Reviewed by 86sportster883 from Maryland

3.33/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Poured into a Terruex tulip glass from a 32oz Crowler that I bought a year ago along with several others in this series. The beer is an impenetrable dark brown with a big rocky tan head that quickly diminishes to just a quarter inch ring that leaves behind a broken lace. A rigorous pour throws off aromas of alcohol soaked cherries, dark chocolate and sherry-like oxidation notes. The taste follows the nose, but is initially dominated by a sharp tartness that hides the high abv and introduces a hint of cocoa. As my palate adjusts and the beer opens up, the sourness fades but remains ever present. This beer has no caramel or toffee richness left in it and any nutty flavors are hard for me to pick up. The beer does have a pleasant drying finish but only hints at caramel malt flavors, let alone toasted pecans or anything even close to a pecan turtle. Maybe this keg was past it’s prime when I bought it. I hope I didn’t buy two of these…. After going 1/2 way through this crowler, hoping the turtle doves (wtf are they anyway?) would magically improve, this version of 2 turtle doves is 16oz drain pour. But I did get quite the buzz on the 1st half.
Jan 22, 2022
Photo of sjrider
Reviewed by sjrider from California

4.02/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle pour 2021 version @ 10.6% brewed w/ orange peel and spices. Opaque brownish black with quickly dissipating khaki head leaving minimal lacing and a ring of bubbles. Nose is mild roasty malt with hints of yeast and orange. Taste follows with some caramel and spice in the background. Finishes slightly dry with a lingering citric sweetness.
Jan 07, 2022
Photo of Lucular
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland

3.99/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
13 oz snifter pour at Lures Bar & Grille. Pours a dark mahogany brown with a moderate light tan head. Aroma and flavor feature dark malt, light chocolate/caramel/coffee, Belgian yeast esters, and spice. Mouthfeel is well-carbonated and slightly boozy. This would probably benefit from a year or two (or 10?) of aging.
Jan 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

Jan 03, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by bigred89 from Maryland

Jan 02, 2022
Photo of BubbleBobble
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York

3.61/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Side by side tasting of the 2009 version and the 12 Days of Xmas both rebrew.

2009: Pours a very dark mahogany, relatively little head formation, but slightly more retention than the fresh version. Nose suggests a little tartness, some oak, dried cherries. Taste is less and rich than the rebrew - baking chocolate and dried cherry both pretty forward, finishing rather dry. Mouthfeel is moderate, but far thinner than the fresh version (and think that's a positive).

Rebrew: Similar to 2009 version, but head tapers away quicker; a few dots of lacing. Nose is a bit muted - dark fruit, slight sour pumpernickel bread. Taste leads with moderately sweet dark fruit, dark chocolate fudge, slight cordial sweetness. Mouthfeel is super thick and full with long, lingering warming.

Both are interesting beers, but think the 2009 version (whether its age, formulation, or likely both) is more interesting and a lighter package.
Dec 26, 2021
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I've only had 4 in this series of 12. So I was salivating that I could buy a case of the series barrel-aged; hoping that The Bruery actually shipped. So I threw a few more of their saisons into the order and... turns out I have a 2100 mile drive to pickup my order. Oh, well..... As every Cubs fan knows; expecting an outcome that is too good to be true equates to "wait until next year."

2 Turtle Doves was a pleasant surprise. Upon reading the label, I thought it would pair better with dessert; but opened it early to let it breath some. One taste led to another and then others at the Christmas Eve festivities got into the act... and it was gone. So, I couldn't even get to the dessert pairing.

Da Doves' Looks are only slightly above average, enough foam and lace to say "ale." Smells and Tastes say "The Holidays are Here", heaps of dark fruit and December spices and brewers sugar; all packaged as a balanced Christmas present. Full in my mouth and surprisingly not boozy or sweet, I wish there was another bottle ... or I had defied the holiday spirit and not shared.

But, life is good. And I really should pay more attention to The Bruery; but I'm shy of their imperial specialities... except special, social times of the year when I can share the extra alcohol. The Bruery brews as well in all traditions and as well as any brewer I know. Cheers ! (And I intend to make that long-promised visit this March... but that pick-up of the case of BA "12 Days/Years of Christmas"? It's too long a haul back to Chicago. It would be easier to change the beer distribution laws of the 50 United States that it would be to convince my wife to tolerate my driving for 2,000 miles. Believe it, Bros. )

12/31/21 Bought another copy and brought it to a party of two drinkers... so I could enjoy it more. But I enjoyed it about the same. No change in rating. But, I did discover that 2 Turtle Doves is not a versatile brew and does not stretch from appetizers to dessert. I drank only a few sips while eating the entree stuff.

I still hope to score this treasure again. And I'm counting over @ UnTappd.
Dec 25, 2021
 
Rated: 4.02 by Cpmitchno1 from Virginia

Dec 25, 2021
 
Rated: 4.54 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

Dec 25, 2021
2 Turtle Doves from The Bruery
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 485 ratings