RateBeer
Score
8784
OVERALLStyle
Brewed by Williams Brothers (Heather Ales)
Style: Traditional Ale
Alloa, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution

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RATINGS: 760   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.37   EST. CALORIES: 225   ABV: 7.5%
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.


2.8
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 11/20
fullers (237) - Toronto, Ontario, CANADA - OCT 10, 2010
Bottle LCBO Gift Pack Pours clear light amber with small white head. Traces of resin in aroma, not overwhelming. Quite light bodied. Sweet malts with a slight resin overlay. Nothing in the finish. Quite disappointing.

3.4
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
JStax (692) - Devola, Ohio, USA - OCT 3, 2010
Poured into an English pint. Appearance is an amber color with a thin beige head. Aroma is pine and fruits. Taste is an interesting Berry flavor that stays on the tongue long after the swallow. Medium bodied beer that really reminds me of a berry beer. I like this one a lot.

3.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
bubbleflubber (1206) - Asheville, North Carolina, USA - OCT 3, 2010
Pours amber into the glass, with a light soapy head that leaves trace soapy lace. The nose is of spruce, pine and light artificial scents. Flavors are sweet, with pine additions on top of an abundance of caramel malt. Unfortunately, the finish doesn’t counter the sweetness of the brew, and keeps seeping doses of diacetyl butter, butter rum and caramel. It’s just this side of cloying, and would almost be in the category of an English Barleywine or Harvest Ale. There is some toffee pronounced after the finish has concluded, but is missing out on either the diversity of a cleaner finish for the traditional ale, or a thicker complex body for a substantive (English) barleywine. As it stands, the body is not quite established, as the carbonation cuts through too harshly to balance the lighter mouthfeel. Tons of potential here, though, and honestly, a really nice sipper as it warms. I do indeed enjoy it, and wish that there were just a minor tweak or two to take it to the next level.

3.2
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 14/20
JRock72 (788) - - OCT 1, 2010
Same bottle as pictured. Sweet aroma. First sip was really sweet but the rest went down much easier.

3.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
ontbeermaker (1261) - Ontario, CANADA - OCT 1, 2010
Very interesting beer unlike any other I can think of. It has a very sweet flavour and a sweet aroma. Recommended a taste

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
tommann (1226) - Dudley, West Midlands, ENGLAND - SEP 23, 2010
330ml bottle. Pours dark amber with a small head. Aroma is dull raisin and caramel. Very sweet, with a sweet raisin,slightly dry finish. Not too full in the mouth.

3.4
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
502Flavors (1001) - Arlington/DC, Virginia, USA - AUG 26, 2010
Bottle. The listing here is a bit confusing/hard to find. Pours a hazy amber copper color with a small white head that took an aggressive pour to build. Fades quickly. But I might have an old ass bottle. Smells of nothing but sweet malt... almost like a British old ale. The flavor is quite nice actually, and not overly sweet. Brown sugar candi upfront with a very short finish. All sweet, but not overly sweet (and I HATE sweet beers). Medium body with low carbonation. Overall: damn interesting and tasty. The alcohol is hiden very well!

2.8
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 12/20
Ober (2125) - Bommelerwaard, NETHERLANDS - AUG 22, 2010
A clear golden colored beer with a thick foamy off white head. The aroma of sweet fruits, apricot with pine. There are malts with some spices. The taste is mostly sweet of fruits with hints of bitter and some spices. A little sticky. Aftertaste is mostly sweet.


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Rating Notecard:
Beer: Heather Ales Alba Rating Avg: 3.37 No. of Ratings: 760
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