Heather Ales Alba

	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
622	3.39/5.0	3.38/5.0	7.5%	75.1	Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard

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.

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chimplechamp (463), Oslo, Norway

3.6	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.6	7/10	3/5	6/10	5/5	15/20

Apr 22, 2008

bottle- A lot softer on the pine than i remember it, taste is refreshing pine, with a really sticky syrupy mouthfeel. nose is fresh piney and wooded with a back drop of lemon, and breaded malts. I remember it tasting like a pine forest, or stewed pine needles this is much subtler and better in my opinion.

alobar (1015), Harleysville, Pennsylvania, USA

3.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.5	7/10	3/5	7/10	3/5	15/20

Apr 13, 2008

Pours a clear, pilsner-like yellow with a white soapy head. Strawberry aroma with hints of pine. Taste was fruit-grapefruit, malts, yeast. Unusual beer and very enjoyable.

BeerZack (116), Austin, Texas, USA

3.7	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.7	8/10	3/5	7/10	4/5	15/20

Apr 1, 2008

Caramelly orange in color with small, fine ring of bubbles that does lace. Sweet, fruity, yeasty. Banana, bubblegum, caramel, lemon zest. Slightly sweet, but less so than the nose, a salty caramel impression, but light malt flavors overall. Fruit (apple, banana, fig), hint of spice and sugar. Soft, smooth, medium bodied, not highly carbonated. Doesn’t taste or smell like spruce or pine to me.

stefanje (938), (Santee) San Diego, California, USA

3.7	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.7	7/10	4/5	7/10	4/5	15/20

Mar 31, 2008

330 ml bottle from bevmo. Pours a slightly hazy copper-amber color with a off-white head that lasts a while. The aroma is big with spruce, and ripe red fruits. Flavors of cranberries, cherries and strawberries. Malty mouthfeel with medium-light carbonation. Finishes long and sweet with lingering berries. Overall: This reminds me a lot of Alaskan Winter Ale (also brewed with spruce tips). Very unusual and enjoyable.

KimJohansen (6866), Copenhagen V, Denmark

2.9	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
2.9	5/10	3/5	6/10	3/5	12/20

Mar 30, 2008

Cloudy amber with medium off white head. Sweet aroma with notes of fruits, alcohol and pine. Sweet flavor with piny, caramel and fruity notes. Ends sweet,

yespr (11952), Copenhagen O, Denmark

3.3	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.3	6/10	3/5	7/10	3/5	14/20

Mar 29, 2008

33 cL bottle. Pours cloudy orange with a lacing off-white head. Aroma has roasted malt, light fruity and an almost coffee/chocolate like note. Spiced flavour, light citric, I assume spruce. Ends with a caramel flavour and a smooth chocolate note and mouthfeel.

Davinci (295), Chicago, Illinois, USA

3.2	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.2	6/10	4/5	6/10	3/5	13/20

Mar 22, 2008

Pours a lovely orange clear color with minimal head. Aroma is bread crust with subtle sweetness and mild fruit aroma. Flavor is interesting. Mildly sweet and fruity with hints of spruse and some bread crust on the finish. Body is kind of sugar watery with little carbonation. Definately an interesting beer though it could use more of a kick.

ekstedt (2419), Göteborg, Sweden

3.3	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.3	6/10	4/5	6/10	4/5	13/20

Mar 17, 2008

Bottle (33 cl) at Haket, Göteborg, Sweden. Cloudy amber, low head. Malty and fruity, and very spicy with notes of clove and coriander. Medium bodied and smooth, good balance.

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