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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?  
 BelgianBeerGal (1277), Sabbatical in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/513/20
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 (1430), Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/515/20
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 (801), Gothenburg, Sweden
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/57/103/514/20
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 (549), Leiden, Netherlands
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/59/105/518/20
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!


 RichJ7 (1175), Cullman, Alabama, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/104/515/20
Feb 25, 2008  
Slightly hazy reddish amber with a quickly fading off-white head. No real spruce or pine in the nose initially, just sugary sweet malt. very sweet malty flavor with the pine/spruce coming in for a crispy, herbal finish. Lightly syrupy on the palate. I was expecting more of a novelty beer here, but it’s a well-made ale in a very interesting traditional style, and it’s very pleasant and refreshing.


 badlizard (2326), Berkeley, California, USA
2.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/102/55/102/59/20
Feb 18, 2008  
from bevmo. Copper brown with a fizzy head. Sweet pine and caramel aroma. Overly sweet syrupy and strangely pine and berry cough syrup taste.


 mutant (854), Melbourne, Australia
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/513/20
Feb 10, 2008  
Small cream coloured head over a cloudy copper coloured body which contains tiny circulating particles. Strong sweet and floral aroma. Very sweet honey-like flavour. A little warming alcohol in the finish actually keeps this beer from being cloying. For lovers of non-hoppy beers only.


 WillieV (191), Maryland, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/103/513/20
Feb 9, 2008  
Bottle: Nice golden brown color to it with a very thin off white head. Very nice carbonation to it. Semi sweet scent to it. Sweet/nutty taste to it. Very smooth.



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