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Score
8784
OVERALLStyle
Brewed by Williams Brothers (Heather Ales)
Style: Traditional Ale
Alloa, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution

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RATINGS: 760   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.37   EST. CALORIES: 225   ABV: 7.5%
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.

3.6
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
kmweaver (3025) - Santa Rosa, California, USA - SEP 3, 2008
11.2oz bottle, courtesy of my brother. Thanks, Phil! Pours a murky, slightly oily amber-orange color; thin off-white head. Generous amounts of floral notes, dried oranges, and caramel in the aroma; clean, crisp nose. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: relaxed carbonation; loads of caramel, dried fruits, and floral notes upfront; good levels of oiliness and viscosity throughout; generous, satisfying, and floral; reserved sweetness. Lengthy finish: caramel, dried fruits, and sweet malts; nicely balanced throughout.

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
gam (2139) - brisbane, AUSTRALIA - AUG 31, 2008
Thin head to mild foam cover on rich amber pour,carbonation steady.Aroma smokey like,rich woody notes,hint of caramel.Flavour sharp malty sweet body mainly,liccorice pine some tastes of strong wooded atmosphere,bit like caramel,it,okay.

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 14/20
Bullit (3199) - Burgos, SPAIN - AUG 24, 2008
Orange-copper colour, white head. Aroma has pine hops. Flavour is hoppy and sweet malty. Light bodied.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 16/20
TOSG55 (98) - Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA - AUG 16, 2008
Bottle. Pours a cloudy orange-amber, with little head. Strong aroma of sweet pine. The flavor is honey, with the pine also being very prominent. 7.5% ABV is barely noticeable. Interesting, and quite drinkable; definitely my favorite of this series of traditional Scottish ales.

2.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 4/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 8/20
lb4lb (2021) - Austin, Texas, USA - AUG 15, 2008
Pours is an attractive cloudy reddish amber with a light beige head. Smell is piney and floral and lightly spicy. Some sweet fruity berry like smells too. Taste is pine needles and berries and alcohol. Bit too much alcohol showing, unfortunately. Tastes like a berry fruit beer with some pine and a good amount of sweetness. Interesting but not great. .

3.2
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
Skinnyviking (5472) - Copenhagen, DENMARK - AUG 14, 2008
Bottle. Small but lasting off-white head. Clear dark brown body. Sweet berries aroma. Relatively sweet berries flavor with little hops bitterness and piney. Low carbonation, long sweet aftertaste.

3.7
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
TheGrandMaster (2308) - Auckland, NEW ZEALAND - AUG 13, 2008
Bottle (in NZ), pours an orange amber with a filmy head. A light perfumed aroma, piney (not surprisingly), some bubblegum, and a good whiff of that alcohol. Malty, woody and slightly medicinal palate. Fruity and smooth, this drunk very easily, dangerously so at 7.5%

3.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
DandyWolfFloyd (378) - Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, USA - AUG 11, 2008
Aroma is of sweet fruits and sweet malts. It’s appearance is a dark copper, with a thin white collar. It’s flavor is a sweet, but not overly sweet body, the malts shine, with faint notes of wood and minute alcohol. Finish is rather smooth, well balanced.


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Rating Notecard:
Beer: Heather Ales Alba Rating Avg: 3.37 No. of Ratings: 760
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