Handel's Snappy Turtle consists of a strong and delicious chocolate base (far superior than Ben & Jerry's) with mixed in nuts, and a caramel swirl. Turtle is something that is very common in this combination but Handel's in my opinion knocked this one out of the park.
Upon first bite the base is so rich. This chocolate is so unique. It's beyond a chocolate bar like you get with Hershey's as it has a bit of swiss chocolate taste to it. Some may think this is on the lighter side, but the boldness of the ice cream is what sticks out. If you leave a Ben & Jerry's pint out for 20 minutes it will start to melt. Handel's is so dense that is barely begins to melt at all. The stuff is thick and really packs a good flavor. The mix-ins of the almond pieces is a great addition as well. They are hidden underneath the top layer, but once you dig down in and as you can see in the further pictures they start to pile up as you get downward to the bottom which provide a nice crunch. The turtles also provides a great caramel swirl. Now this swirl is no where near something you get in Karamel Sutra, or a swirl found in Scotchy Scotchy Scotch, or as good as 2nd St. Creamery Copper Kettle Caramel, but it's still good. The base in this pint is what really separates this from other turtle ice creams out there (which are primarily a vanilla base).
Overall, the pint is killer from top to bottom. The swirl could be better with the inclusion of caramel, but it gives you enough to compliment the chocolate base. This is no Jeni's, don't get me wrong, but it's probably my 2nd favorite chocolate base right behind it which gives this a very good feedback and score. The inclusion of the nuts is great, even not being a big "nut lover" in ice cream the crunch packs the unique turtle taste as well as the caramel swirl which is mediocre. If that was enhanced this would be an A+ pint without a doubt. Just the overall base and its rich flavoring along sells the pint and gives it incredible flavor. If you are a chocolate lover, then this is right up your alley. You don't need chocolate swirls like found in Chocolate Therapy or Mississippi Mud Pie to make it a killer pint. The base alone gives this pint something to look forward to if you never have had Handel's, their flavoring alone makes it worth your time.
Where Bob Found It: Handel's (Pittsburgh, PA)
Bob's Grade: A