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Heather Ales Alba

Heather Ales Alba  - Traditional Ale

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 Percentile 
81
overall
Brewed by Williams Brothers (Heather Ales)
Style: Traditional Ale

Alloa, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
6183.38/5.03.38/5.07.5%75.4Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard
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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 Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 ilherps (212), Carbondale, Illinois, 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 (5403), 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


 azlondon (656), Fribourg, Switzerland
2.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/510/20
Jun 30, 2008  
Appearance: Chestnut brown. Not much head. Aroma: Sweet, malt. Pine. Maybe fruit. Taste: Sweet and pine. Interesting. Malt. Info: 330ml bottle, 13/12-2006, 125/500


daddyslick (36), Arizona, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/57/104/514/20
Jun 30, 2008  
This beer very much resembles a pine syrup. It pours to a very clear amber color. Almost no head what so ever. It is very full bodied and very sweet. I can appreciate it’s historical heritage, but this will remain a novelty for me.


 dkachur (2317), Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
2.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/54/102/58/20
Jun 21, 2008  
Bottle from Wine & Beer Westpark. Dark & cloudy red pour w/ minimal head that quickly disappears. Sweet banana, caramel aroma. Malty taste to the extreme with a gummy bear sweetness. A light hint of fuzzy bitterness. Almost no noticeable pine or spruce and a thoroughly sucktastic beer otherwise. What’s the point?


 maltdog (509), Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
2.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/53/101/57/20
Jun 10, 2008  
Bottle, sampled near room temperature from a tulip glass. Superclear, coppery henna hue with a tonsured fringe of ivory foam. The rich aroma weaves an exotic menagerie… cherry licorice, toffee, marshmallow, grape, wax, eualyptus, and acentone. Then, the dreamily rhapsodic sensations end with the abruptness of a five-car pileup… an extremely “pink” cotton candy, strawberry and dainty peach flavor, barely boosted by background toasty malts, results in a dimensionless, ambiguous ale. Is there a suggestion of baking spice in the finish? A thin, wimpy body is as lifeless as warm spit. A shy aftertaste is the ditzy identical twin to the flavor, vacant of any pine or spruce influence. Despite the attractive abv, this beer is very understated and girly; I was expecting at least a modicum of personality… but here is a mere label-only novelty that I would not recommend to anyone.


 BrewDad (2363), Olympia, Washington, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/512/20
Jun 7, 2008  
330ml Bottle - Gravity Beer Market - Olympia, WA
Aroma – Very interesting spiced up nose with a unique malt.
Appearance – Brown in color, Light head and very hazy.
Flavor – Strong pine and heather flavors with a fruitiness also inserted as flavors go.
Palate – Great Mouthfeel, Nice texture with a good dry finish.
Overall – This was a great beer had flavors that where just subtle yet detectable.


 Lunkie (1020), Glen Iris, Australia
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/512/20
Jun 3, 2008  
Nut malt hop aroma. Murky brown colour with poor head and lacing. Bitter smokey sweet candy maltflavour. Smooth palate.



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