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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.

3.1
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
JohnRMurdoch (1391) - Glasgow, SCOTLAND - AUG 3, 2010
Bottle from The Cave. Sweet malt & pine aroma, orange brown colour with a good head. Tastes more like a fruit beer but I can get a hint of pinewood. Better than I expected. Makes me proud to be from Scotland, a country that produces good beer.

3.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
smooch (238) - Sylvania, Ohio, USA - JUL 22, 2010
A good beer although who knows what the style should be like. Has a sweet component that is surprising to me although I’ve never chewed on pine before. A mile piney aroma that leads to the unique flavor. The aroma also has a sweetness that reminds me of jelly beans. Sweet aroma reminiscent of the flavor. Nice cream palate.

2.6
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 10/20
ClubGonzo (1736) - Bergen, NORWAY - JUL 9, 2010
UPDATED: NOV 22, 2010 Bottle @ Henrik, Bergen. Pours a coppery red misty body with a thin white head. Smell is bready malts, raspberry and earthy leaves. Taste is very forest-like, with nuts, moldy pine aromas, spruce, wood and toffee. Slightly sour-bitter finish. Kinda weird, and not quite to my liking. Nevertheless, an original creation worth trying.

3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 11/20
KyotoLefty (3480) - Kyoto, JAPAN - JUN 27, 2010
Bottle. A finely made strong scotch ale, almost ruined with tons of pine flavoring. The beer tastes nice up fornt, but then the pine kicks in and there are no hops to give bitterness, so the sweet taste remains unabated and becomes rather rancid. Hard to drink.

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 13/20
downender (4186) - Bristol, Gloucestershire, ENGLAND - JUN 20, 2010
Bottle. Deep amber colour with a decent, off-white head. Sweetish malt, green herbs, pine cones and honey aroma. Caramel and biscuit malt flavours, with plenty of pine, citrus and a dry finish. Good.

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
WVHouseofBeer (630) - Kissimmee, Florida, USA - JUN 17, 2010
UPDATED: JUL 11, 2010 Poured a slightly hazy amber color with no head. Unique flavors and aroma of caramel and lemon zest, with some spruce as well. A little bit of alchol burn, but not unpleasantly so. Soft carbonation and slick mouthfeel. Very drinkable considering the somehwhat high ABV. Another brew from Heather Ales that is unique and strange but turns out to be quite enjoyable.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 16/20
Leighton (3598) - London, Greater London, ENGLAND - JUN 11, 2010
Bottle. Pours a light, amber brown with a light, medium, white head, which dissipates quickly. Slightly hazy. Nose is very sweet-smelling and candy-like, with hints of earth, pine and spice. Flavor is sweet with light maltiness and hoppiness. A bit alcoholic, especially on the finish. Notes of scotch-whiskey and spices are there as well. Pretty good overall.

4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 17/20
Lady_Bastet (113) - Burlington, Ontario, CANADA - JUN 9, 2010
Poured clear amber with minimal head from the bottle. Aroma of biscuit and flowers. A bit of pine in there too. Medium body with very soft carbonation. Flavours of caramel and some hops across the top of the palate. Overall a delightful, complex ale with lots of interesting flavours and aromas. Nice smooth finish too. Try it if you can.


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