RateBeer

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
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
6223.39/5.03.38/5.07.5%75.1Dimpled 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.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 AlabastorJones (765), San Francisco, California, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/512/20
Dec 1, 2007  
sweet alcohol nose, cherries, dark brown color, tan/gray head, woody smoked raisin flavor, sweet alc finish, notes of cherries and tart fruit, not bad, a little thin n the palate


 Funknmilla (577), Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, USA
2.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/56/103/512/20
Nov 29, 2007  
Cloudy body and head...alcohol dipped spicy caramel aroma...zingy flavor with a suggestion of citrus, and perhaps i’m sniffing a pine cone in the distance as all this is happening...In the woods I am, or in Grammy’s house with the pine cone decorations...even tempered palate, a pleasant liquid creation


 wickedpete (626), Lexington Park, Maryland, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/102/513/20
Nov 24, 2007  
Pours brown and quite fizzy but with little head formation. Aroma is sweet with some sour notes coming at the edges. Fruity. Flavor is a little thin but has some nice sweetness, caramel, and fruit notes of apples and plums. Carbonation has all but disappeared within minutes leaving the palate quite lacking.


 Lowe1983 (1029), Fairborn, Ohio, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/515/20
Nov 20, 2007  
Pours a cloudy copper color with a white head. Aroma is of fruits, caramel malts, and a slight hint of some hops. Flavor is sweet with the fruits and carmel malts at first. Finishes with some oak flavor, a little bit of hops, and just a touch of some alcohol warming. Not was I was expecting, but not too bad either.


 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 (4171), 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 (195), 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.



CONSIDER FREE RATEBEER MEMBERSHIP



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

SIGN UP NOW »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63


About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Log In | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Feedback?
Copyright © 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC