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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DownsouthGav (602), Greater London, England

3.7	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.7	8/10	3/5	8/10	4/5	14/20

Mar 15, 2008

Bottle. Sweet, pine, hops and malt nose. Pours a copper coloured beer with a white head. Very soft mouth feel, spicy, some sweetness, pines and hops in the long finish. Alcohol burn somewhat in the chest is the only indicator of the beers strength. Quite tasty.

UselessGdTaste (363), Long Beach, California, USA

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

Mar 12, 2008

Not as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact, I enjoyed it. It is very piney, but not irritatingly so. Much more of a viscous beer with a pine addition. Glad to see them continuing with tradition.

robforbes (1085), Bremerton, Washington, USA

2.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
2.5	5/10	2/5	5/10	3/5	10/20

Mar 11, 2008

purchased at 99 bottles in federal way, washington. pour is a semi-cloudy, orange-brown with a small dirty white head that goes away quickly, no lacing. smell of raspberry, dough, some spice, slight rubbing alcohol. taste is strange, watery, pine nuts, malt, some woodiness, light spice, sour aftertaste.

fakepurseninja (776), Washington, USA

2.3	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
2.3	6/10	4/5	3/10	2/5	8/20

Mar 11, 2008

As expected, lots of pine - not like the acute IPA stinging pine, but a very mellow and rich presence. Drink was too sweet and alkaline, lots of depth but nothing I found noteworthy. Not a bad drink, but most certainly not a variety I enjoy.

BelgianBeerGal (1283), Sabbatical in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

3.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.5	7/10	4/5	7/10	4/5	13/20

Mar 10, 2008

Bottle poured at room remperature. Ruby/copper colour with a white ring on top. Aroma of caramel and slight hint of alcohol Very gentle woody pine flavour that was surprisingly not sharp. Interesting and unique.

TheEpeeist (1442), Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA

3.3	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.3	6/10	3/5	6/10	3/5	15/20

Mar 9, 2008

11.2 oz bottle. Clear brown with a slim beige head. Nose of, surprisingly, gummi bears and pine. Medium light with a mild tingle and resin. Taste is toffee and peach tempered with pine. Worth a try.

Jonte (815), Gothenburg, Sweden

3.2	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.2	5/10	3/5	7/10	3/5	14/20

Mar 8, 2008

Bottle. Sample at Ölfrämjandet meeting at Haket, Gothenburg. Reddish/orange color with an off white head. Aroma: Berries, sourness, caramel, herbs, some frutiness. Flavor: Berries, lightly sourness, herbs, spiciness, alcohol and some bitterness.

TrefwoordPunk (548), Leiden, Netherlands

4.2	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
4.2	7/10	3/5	9/10	5/5	18/20

Mar 4, 2008

Bottle 33 cl, served at room temperature in a trappist glass. Pours a dark reddish brown with a small head and a thin sweetish aroma. Sweet syruppy taste with a great herbal, almost medicine-like kick in the end. Bitter without hops, I really like this one. It’s geneous!

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