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Home > Brewers > Scotland > Williams Brothers (Heather Ales) >

Heather Ales Alba

Heather Ales Alba

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 Percentile 
77
overall
A Traditional Ale brewed by
Williams Brothers (Heather Ales)

Alloa, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
5333.39/5.03.39/5.07.5%70.6 Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard P  Stats

Commercial Description:
Bottled. A cask version at 6% is produced in March and April.
"Scots Pine Ale"
Introduced by the Vikings, spruce and pine ales were very popular in the Scottish Highlands until the end of the 19th century. Many early explorers, including Captain Cook, used spruce ale during long sea voyages since it prevented scurvy and ill health. Shetland spruce ale was said to "stimulate animal instincts" and give you twins. Alba is a triple style ale brewed to a traditional Highland recipe from Scots pine and spruce shoots pickled during early spring.Pure malted barley, is boiled with the young sprigs of pine for several hours then the fresh shoots of the spruce are added for a short infusion before fermentation.
A tawny brown strong ale with spruce aroma, rich malt texture, complex wood flavour and lingering finish.
Best drunk at room temperature from a wine goblet as an after dinner digestive.

Most RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
brokephibroke (18), , Colorado, USA
2.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/102/56/102/512/20
Jul 21, 2008  
Amber pour with minimal head, unremarkable. Berry aroma hits first, with pine coming forward upon sitting, quite nice! Sweet, piney and minimal carbonation. This beer is beyond a novelty and compares with oher historical brews.


benbakelaar (5), North Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Heather Ales Alba  does not count
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/517/20
Jul 13, 2008  
Strong aroma, spruce and pine could be mistaken for olives. The smell does not give away the taste though, you would think it was much lighter based on the smell. It has a deep reddish color, again surprising if you thought you were getting a crisp, piney ale. The flavor is an explosion of rich, velvety taste, heavy on the malt but nicely balanced in the finish with the spruce/pine, which tastes much better than you might imagine spruce/pine does. Not much of a head, but the palate is really nice, heavier than expected, but very smooth. This might be my favorite from the sampler pack I got (with Elderberry Black Ale, Heathers Fraoch Ale, and the Gooseberry and Wheat Ale)!


 darkguardian (139), Florida, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/516/20
Jul 12, 2008  
12oz bottle. Pours a crystal clear reddish brown. Small whitish head. Nose of bread, maple, alcohol and citrus hops. This is a badass tasting beer. Alcohol well hidden, totally unique maple pine flavor. Low bitterness. Awesome malt backbone, perfect carbonation. This is very very underated.


ilherps (40), USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/59/102/517/20
Jul 5, 2008  
The name does not lie. This beer tastes like pine trees, which I really happen to like the smell of, and also happen to like the taste of in a beer. This beer is sort of festive, something to have around the holidays. It smells of pine, and citrusy hops, The flavor is similar, pine resins and floral/citrus hops. Very interesting.


 Bov (4558), Bienne, Switzerland
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/513/20
Jul 1, 2008  
courtesy of Toni Flükiger - hazy reddish colour with no foam left; resiney nose, aroma of wood and raspberries marmelade; moderate malt body, low carbonation, sweet and a bit sticky, shy bitterness and chewy malts in the mouth; more resiney, woody and red fruity notes in the finish




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