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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.

3.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
yespr (20653) - Copenhagen O, DENMARK - MAR 29, 2008
33 cL bottle. Pours cloudy orange with a lacing off-white head. Aroma has roasted malt, light fruity and an almost coffee/chocolate like note. Spiced flavour, light citric, I assume spruce. Ends with a caramel flavour and a smooth chocolate note and mouthfeel.

3.2
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
Davinci (295) - Chicago, Illinois, USA - MAR 22, 2008
Pours a lovely orange clear color with minimal head. Aroma is bread crust with subtle sweetness and mild fruit aroma. Flavor is interesting. Mildly sweet and fruity with hints of spruse and some bread crust on the finish. Body is kind of sugar watery with little carbonation. Definately an interesting beer though it could use more of a kick.

3.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 13/20
ekstedt (3624) - Göteborg, SWEDEN - MAR 17, 2008
Bottle (33 cl) at Haket, Göteborg, Sweden. Cloudy amber, low head. Malty and fruity, and very spicy with notes of clove and coriander. Medium bodied and smooth, good balance.

3.7
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
DownsouthGav (601) - Greater London, ENGLAND - MAR 15, 2008
Bottle. Sweet, pine, hops and malt nose. Pours a copper coloured beer with a white head. Very soft mouth feel, spicy, some sweetness, pines and hops in the long finish. Alcohol burn somewhat in the chest is the only indicator of the beers strength. Quite tasty.

3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 12/20
UselessGdTaste (365) - Long Beach, California, USA - MAR 12, 2008
Not as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact, I enjoyed it. It is very piney, but not irritatingly so. Much more of a viscous beer with a pine addition. Glad to see them continuing with tradition.

2.5
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 10/20
robforbes (1317) - Bremerton, Washington, USA - MAR 11, 2008
purchased at 99 bottles in federal way, washington. pour is a semi-cloudy, orange-brown with a small dirty white head that goes away quickly, no lacing. smell of raspberry, dough, some spice, slight rubbing alcohol. taste is strange, watery, pine nuts, malt, some woodiness, light spice, sour aftertaste.

2.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 3/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 8/20
19Ei8hty (977) - Washington, USA - MAR 11, 2008
As expected, lots of pine - not like the acute IPA stinging pine, but a very mellow and rich presence. Drink was too sweet and alkaline, lots of depth but nothing I found noteworthy. Not a bad drink, but most certainly not a variety I enjoy.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 13/20
BelgianBeerGal (2105) - Dayton Area, Ohio, USA - MAR 10, 2008
Bottle poured at room remperature. Ruby/copper colour with a white ring on top. Aroma of caramel and slight hint of alcohol Very gentle woody pine flavour that was surprisingly not sharp. Interesting and unique.


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