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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
View Statistics  P 

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?  
 puboflyons (589), New Hampshire, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/514/20
Sep 22, 2007  
Bottle with an expiration date of Jun 2008. From a collector’s pack called "Historic Ales from Scotland." Pours a hazy brownish-copper with a beige head but not much lacing. A very unique aroma of spruce and pine, which, believe it or not, are part of this recipe that the brewer says originated with the Vikings. A full mouth feel and about the most unique flavor I have ever had. Some berries maybe. Ends dry. Really unsual and likeable.


 Sigmund (2197), Hafrsfjord, Norway
1.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
3/104/53/102/57/20
Sep 19, 2007  
330 ml bottle, bought at Real Foods, Edinburgh. ABV is 7.5%. Deep amber coloured beer, large off-white head. Unusual sweetish aroma, notes of over-ripe raspberries and pine needles, not very pleasant. The flavour is very sweet and alcoholic, piney and sugary notes. Unusual beer, but is it really good? I’m sorry, but this is not for me.


 wetherel (1565), Encinitas, California, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/55/103/513/20
Sep 18, 2007  
After enjoying Short’s spruce beer, I was excited to find another: Alba. unfortunately it has nothing to do with Jessica Alba. Best before October 2008. Pours with no head. Amber color with a slight murk. A small aroma of buttery caramelized malt. Maybe a slight woody smell. I keep sniffing over and over again searching for pine or spruce, but there’s none to be found. Flavor is a big vegetal and bit bland.


 Pastor (509), Maine, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/515/20
Sep 12, 2007  
pours cloudy caramel lite laceing aroma fruity alcohol tastes sweater than I expected for a pine ale . I’d drink it again


 MarkoR (224), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/512/20
Sep 12, 2007  
Very interesting beer. Smell of caramel. Pours a copper colour with a small head. Very nice flavor.


 Guerde (693), Welcome, Minnesota, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/513/20
Sep 4, 2007  
(bottle, thanks JK) Pours amber with a white head. Aroma is piney with a malty sweetness too. Flavor is initially caramel malt, but then rounds out to a pretty nice piney finish.


 OSLO (825), Perth, Australia
2.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/54/102/57/20
Sep 3, 2007  
[Bottle, thanks JK] Pours amber with a light tan head. Aroma was rubbing alcohol at first, but this diminished and then disappeared completely, giving way to a sweet smell of caramel and honey. Taste was not good--a weak malty taste that did nothing for me. Short finish. Thin mouthfeel.


 Kirill (264), Durham, North Carolina, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/105/516/20
Sep 1, 2007  
sweet caramel woody aroma... cloudy brown with quickly dissipating head... the woodyness really comes through in a REALLY good flavor and especially in the long finish... this was a great positive surprise



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