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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?  
 fattibobatti (246), Tallahassee, Florida, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/104/516/20
Nov 20, 2007  
12 oz. liquorloft tallahassee. poured a dark copper with a half inch of head. great lacing. aroma was a fresh opened bag of red twizzlers and light scent of honey. taste is creamy honey with malt, finish is more red twizzlers and light wood. body isn’t thick like syrup but still heavy.


 yarry (370), Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
2.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/102/56/102/59/20
Nov 17, 2007  
330ml bottle, 7.5% a/v Pours a dar red with a thin tan head and little evident carbonation. The nose is very fruity and somewhat hoppy, with almost no notes of spruce or pine. The taste and palate are also very fruity.. not what i was expecting at all.


 cgarvieuk (4159), Edinburgh, Scotland
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/515/20
Nov 12, 2007  
Bottle at home ... its been a while since ive had this, so an interesting revisit. Nice red copper colour ... sweet spuce , not pine like some american hops little yeast nose ... Quite rich with a slight overcarbonation mouth feel. Sweet woody resins, good fruit base little caramel, subtle flavour hidden by the carbonation. Much nicer than i remember this.


 surffisher (194), Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/514/20
Nov 6, 2007  
330 ml bottle, best before June 2008. Pours cloudy amber (relatively clear after it settles out), with lots of suspended sediment. Modest head does not last. The aroma is sweet and candy-like with lots of malt and fresh flowery/twiggy smells along with light woody notes when it warms. Flavor is quite unusual and somewhat delicate; short and sweet upfront, with peaty notes and a scotch-like alcohol character and a lingering dry, piney finish. Mouthfeel is medium full and smooth, with moderate carbonation. Tasty and unique. I’ll definitely get this one again for a rare treat.


 mcox90 (617), Wilton, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/104/514/20
Nov 6, 2007  
330ml bottle courtesy of Acknud. Pours a cloudy honey color which ties in with the nose and the flavor. Small white head. Flavor is of honey and candied fruits. Heavy beer with a heavy mouthfeel. Alcohol is there, but well hidden by the sweetness.


 TheJester (694), Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/513/20
Nov 4, 2007  
330 mL. bottle. Cloudy copper brown with a small, rapidly dissipating beige head. The aroma is quite sweet, with honey, candied fruit and only a slight aroma of spruce. There is more pine in the flavour, but the candied fruit is almost as strong. The pine flavour improves in strength and appeal as the beer warms. The alcohol is very well hidden. There is a nice bitter (but short) finish. A little too sweet early on, but a unique brew.


JaPe (69), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/59/103/518/20
Nov 3, 2007  
Wow, at first sip you expect hops or some common kick that beer leaves in your mouth. But then you taste this delicious honey like tree flavor.Despite this it is a heavy beer. Unique and refreshing.


 hopson (591), Williamsville, New York, USA
2.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/55/102/59/20
Oct 29, 2007  
bottle- I wanted more pine! Very sweet, alcohol comes right through with a unique somewhat spuce like taste, but more boozy than I was expecting or hoping. Interesting, but not enough to warrant a purchase.



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