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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Who's Rated This?

RichJ7 (1175), Cullman, Alabama, USA

3.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.5	6/10	3/5	7/10	4/5	15/20

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 (2338), Berkeley, California, USA

2.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
2.4	6/10	2/5	5/10	2/5	9/20

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
3.2	7/10	3/5	6/10	3/5	13/20

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
3.3	6/10	4/5	7/10	3/5	13/20

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.

miketd (679), Cleveland, Ohio, USA

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

Feb 6, 2008

Bottle from trade with magic dave. Thanks Tom! Pour is a honey/amber with a tiny white head. crystal clear. Smells very sweet and bready. Maybe just a hint of pine. Flavor is slightly bitter with a hint of alcohol. Mild sweetness. Medium bodied and pretty smooth.

dolemite77 (184), Maryville, Tennessee, USA

2.9	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
2.9	6/10	3/5	4/10	3/5	13/20

Feb 1, 2008

Lower ranking than most of my beers... maybe because I’m a bit confused. Smells like blackberry or blueberry pie. Which is probably much better than my rating, but just not what I expect a beer to smell like. Don’t really taste the pine in in... which is probably good... a little too sweet for me. Worth a rate though... if you can find it.

JohnnyOS (646), Golden, Wisconsin, USA

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

Jan 25, 2008

Pours dark amber with minimal head. Aroma of dark fruit, citrus and pine-sol. Flavor matches aroma nicely. Nicely done.

Immy (1912), Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA

3.6	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.6	8/10	3/5	7/10	3/5	15/20

Jan 23, 2008

330ml bottle, best by April 09. Clear dark amber with no head. Nose is blackberry and raspberry over sweet malt with mild pine and a touch of citrus. Flavors are more berry, some herbal bitterness and a bit of pine. Rather dry finish, spicy and earthy. Damned interesting beer, and pretty drinkable.

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