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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.

3.4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
Bov (7098) - Bienne, SWITZERLAND - JUL 1, 2008
courtesy of Toni Flükiger - hazy reddish colour with no foam left; resiney nose, aroma of wood and raspberries marmelade; moderate malt body, low carbonation, sweet and a bit sticky, shy bitterness and chewy malts in the mouth; more resiney, woody and red fruity notes in the finish

2.8
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 10/20
azlondon (1004) - Fribourg, SWITZERLAND - JUN 30, 2008
Appearance: Chestnut brown. Not much head. Aroma: Sweet, malt. Pine. Maybe fruit. Taste: Sweet and pine. Interesting. Malt. Info: 330ml bottle, 13/12-2006, 125/500

3.3
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
daddyslick (36) - Arizona, USA - JUN 30, 2008
This beer very much resembles a pine syrup. It pours to a very clear amber color. Almost no head what so ever. It is very full bodied and very sweet. I can appreciate it’s historical heritage, but this will remain a novelty for me.

2.2
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 4/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 8/20
Drake (4803) - Charlottesville, Virginia, USA - JUN 21, 2008
Bottle from Wine & Beer Westpark. Dark & cloudy red pour w/ minimal head that quickly disappears. Sweet banana, caramel aroma. Malty taste to the extreme with a gummy bear sweetness. A light hint of fuzzy bitterness. Almost no noticeable pine or spruce and a thoroughly sucktastic beer otherwise. What’s the point?

2.3
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 3/10   PALATE 1/5   OVERALL 7/20
maltdog (587) - Pueblo, Colorado, USA - JUN 10, 2008
Bottle, sampled near room temperature from a tulip glass. Superclear, coppery henna hue with a tonsured fringe of ivory foam. The rich aroma weaves an exotic menagerie… cherry licorice, toffee, marshmallow, grape, wax, eualyptus, and acentone. Then, the dreamily rhapsodic sensations end with the abruptness of a five-car pileup… an extremely “pink” cotton candy, strawberry and dainty peach flavor, barely boosted by background toasty malts, results in a dimensionless, ambiguous ale. Is there a suggestion of baking spice in the finish? A thin, wimpy body is as lifeless as warm spit. A shy aftertaste is the ditzy identical twin to the flavor, vacant of any pine or spruce influence. Despite the attractive abv, this beer is very understated and girly; I was expecting at least a modicum of personality… but here is a mere label-only novelty that I would not recommend to anyone.

3.4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 12/20
BrewDad (3384) - Olympia, Washington, USA - JUN 7, 2008
330ml Bottle - Gravity Beer Market - Olympia, WA
Aroma – Very interesting spiced up nose with a unique malt.
Appearance – Brown in color, Light head and very hazy.
Flavor – Strong pine and heather flavors with a fruitiness also inserted as flavors go.
Palate – Great Mouthfeel, Nice texture with a good dry finish.
Overall – This was a great beer had flavors that where just subtle yet detectable.

3.1
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 12/20
Lunkie (1128) - Glen Iris, AUSTRALIA - JUN 3, 2008
Nut malt hop aroma. Murky brown colour with poor head and lacing. Bitter smokey sweet candy maltflavour. Smooth palate.

3.4
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 10/20
phishpond417 (2089) - Madison, Wisconsin, USA - MAY 28, 2008
Pours a dark copper colour with a full head. Aroma is piney, citrusy with hints of pepper. Taste is very unique, pine again, almost tart but pleasent fruit flavors. hint of smoke as well.


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