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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
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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?  
 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 (2529), 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 (2758), 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)


njbuddha (2), Pitman, New Jersey, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Heather Ales Alba  does not count
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/518/20
Jan 4, 2007  
Strong ale with a good mouth feel and texture. Hints of pine and spruce for an interesting flavour without being overpowering. Good ale with hearty meals or on a long cold night.


 Poperinge (359), Cowtown, Alberta, Canada
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/104/515/20
Dec 31, 2006    Updated: Jan 7, 2007
And us North Americans drink IPAs to get spruce and pine flavours. 494 Classic Brews to go. Out of one of those historic Scottish sample packs.


 johninmelb (692), Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/514/20
Dec 24, 2006  
Nose is zesty and toasty (obviously with some pine). Pours cloudy amber with a head that forms into yeasty clumps. Flavour is pretty good for a herbal, with an upfront grassiness that develops into citrus, sweet berry, and a medium bitter long finish. There is a little bit of sourness underpinning, and generally speaking it is complex, balanced and well-realised.


 VeloVampire (488), Parkdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/103/514/20
Dec 17, 2006    Updated: Dec 19, 2006
330 ml bottle - pours somewhere between orange and brown with virtually no head save for a few bubbles. Aroma of pine, sweet malty goodness, and some peat, as well as a weird fake fruitiness, almost like strawberry gum. Flavour the same as above, though more floral at the front of the palate, and bitter near the middle, and damn if that isn’t a raspberry coulis in the finish, i don’t know what is....I hope this beer does not give me twins, or any children for that matter. Damn myths!



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