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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?  
Beeroness (2), USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Heather Ales Alba  does not count
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/510/104/511/20
Feb 4, 2007  
From the bottle. Pours a lovely and cloudy copper with a soft head. The nose is distinctly pine and malt with some bready/yeasty notes. The flavor is true pine and very pleasantly so, if you’re a fan of that style. The mouth is light to medium body and finishes quite dryly. An altogether quaffable ale.


 SDalkoholic (1186), Chula Vista, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/516/20
Feb 3, 2007  
Aroma is a average olfaction of a typical beer with some light spice of gigner or perhaps or some other kind of freshly cut root. Cloudy and filled with sediment. Mahogany color and has small head that started on its own as soon as i pulled the cap off. The flavor is rich in spice and has a background of bread and fruit. Kind of like a fruitcake flavor going on here, but some nice spice of ginger and touch of pine to make this a truly unique ale.


 motelpogo (4394), Plzen, Czech Republic
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Feb 3, 2007  
on cask at berlinerbierfest06. reddish brown, spicy, gooseberry aroma. alcohol shows but is quite warming, lightly prickly and some pleasant lacic sourness.


 tronraner (1905), Maryville, Tennessee, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/516/20
Jan 22, 2007  
Bottle. Pours a slightly cloudy rust color with gray floaties and beige head. The aroma is quite malty with some yeasty bread tones and some fruity floral notes. The flavor is very piney, which surprised me a little because it is so subdued in the nose. The edge is taken off it by some bready yeast and malt notes. Some caramelized sugar sweetness floats around in there, too. The finish is increasingly dry and leaves a slight pine and alcohol aftertaste. I like this brew quite a bit, but I am a fan of pine and spruce flavors.


 STEPHENDR (478), California, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/512/20
Jan 18, 2007  
12 oz. bottle- color of murky honey , with a light white head - nose of cannabis , malts , red berries , light resin , and light chocolate – taste of bright red berries , hopps , pine , mint , blueberries , and chocolate malts - body light , and light carbonation – aftertaste of fuit and light Malts


 dwyerpg (2519), Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/59/104/517/20
Jan 18, 2007  
Wonderful piny molasses aroma. Taste is similar, piny and molasses. Very good stuff; a slightly thin finihs, but certainly great.


smellyshoes (11), USA
2.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
3/105/55/103/510/20
Jan 17, 2007  
This beer is good, but not good enough to warrant how seriously it takes itself on the label. I expect fireworks from anything that proclaims it should be drunk "from a wine goblet". It is remarkably smooth, given the relatively high alcohol content. Beautiful color. Smells a bit like pinesol--I suppose this is a downside to any pine ale. Overall good, but in my eye, a tad overrated.


 TaktikMTL (2745), Montréal-Nord, Quebec, Canada
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/515/20
Jan 15, 2007  
Bouteille de 330 ml achetée à la LCBO (Ottawa, ONT). Arôme: Oeur de pin pétillant et de citron. Apparence: La couleur est ambrée orangée. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de pin et d’agrumes. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement sirupeuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Présence d’agrumes en arrière goût. (Rating #831)



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