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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.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
MaltDawg (1344) - Richmond, Virginia, USA - MAY 4, 2008
12 oz bottle. Clear dark reddish/orange with small off-white head that didn’t persist. Sweet caramel malt aroma with pine, cedar, and floral overtones. Caramel malt sweetness with cherry, raisin yeilds to a slightly bitter piney finish. Very sweet full in the mouth with a touch of alchohol warming. Yep I liked this one, very malty with lots of complex stuff going on.

4.1
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
ILoveNewBeer (113) - Iowa City, Iowa, USA - APR 30, 2008
Reddish brown in color. Mid to heavy bodied . Full flavored and delicious. Tastes like a triple style ale. I’m very happy with this sampler.

3.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
VitaminR (540) - Colorado, USA - APR 29, 2008
Sweet caramel butterscotch nose, with huge floral notes. Hazy deep amber, with a small, but thick head. Reduced honey sweetness, the pine and spruce shoots gives it a very floral bitterness. Thick body, nice long finish. Not an everyday choice, but it is a unique and tasty beer.

3.6
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 15/20
chimplechamp (579) - Oslo, NORWAY - APR 22, 2008
bottle- A lot softer on the pine than i remember it, taste is refreshing pine, with a really sticky syrupy mouthfeel. nose is fresh piney and wooded with a back drop of lemon, and breaded malts. I remember it tasting like a pine forest, or stewed pine needles this is much subtler and better in my opinion.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
alobar (1866) - Lansdale, Pennsylvania, USA - APR 13, 2008
Pours a clear, pilsner-like yellow with a white soapy head. Strawberry aroma with hints of pine. Taste was fruit-grapefruit, malts, yeast. Unusual beer and very enjoyable.

3.7
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
BeerZack (116) - Austin, Texas, USA - APR 1, 2008
Caramelly orange in color with small, fine ring of bubbles that does lace. Sweet, fruity, yeasty. Banana, bubblegum, caramel, lemon zest. Slightly sweet, but less so than the nose, a salty caramel impression, but light malt flavors overall. Fruit (apple, banana, fig), hint of spice and sugar. Soft, smooth, medium bodied, not highly carbonated. Doesn’t taste or smell like spruce or pine to me.

3.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
StefanSD (1542) - Lakeside, California, USA - MAR 31, 2008
330 ml bottle from bevmo. Pours a slightly hazy copper-amber color with a off-white head that lasts a while. The aroma is big with spruce, and ripe red fruits. Flavors of cranberries, cherries and strawberries. Malty mouthfeel with medium-light carbonation. Finishes long and sweet with lingering berries. Overall: This reminds me a lot of Alaskan Winter Ale (also brewed with spruce tips). Very unusual and enjoyable.

2.9
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 12/20
KimJohansen (10337) - Copenhagen V, DENMARK - MAR 30, 2008
Cloudy amber with medium off white head. Sweet aroma with notes of fruits, alcohol and pine. Sweet flavor with piny, caramel and fruity notes. Ends sweet,


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