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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?  
 skortila (2875), Bunnik, Netherlands
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/514/20
Oct 27, 2006  
Aroma is fruity and caramel malty. Perhaps some ginger in it. Clear, brown coloured with a lasting, medium brown head. taste is sweet, fruity and caramel malty. Slightly sticfky finish. Quite a nice brew.


 thomat (666), Göteborg, Sweden
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Oct 23, 2006  
Clear redish brown color with a small tan head. Very complex fruit, berry and herbal notes. Like walking trough a pine forest on a hot summer´s day ! Medium body wit a nice bitter-sweet finish.


 Rune (2748), Tromsø, Norway
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/103/512/20
Oct 12, 2006  
330ml bottle bought at Utobeer in London. Ruby red or tawny with a solid off-white head. Very nice clarity. Inviting fruity aroma. Taste of berries (strawberry), flowers and fruit (pineapple). Unusual, but quite appealing (16.09.2006).


 pinkzambia (986), Boise, Idaho, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/55/104/514/20
Oct 8, 2006  
Bottle:Cloudy reddish apple cider color with no head. Aromas of spicy bananas, spruce and sweet figs. The taste is initially off-putting, something resembling furniture polish and musty rubbing alcohol. But as you get used to it it grows on you and you don’t really notice much of spruce or pine, except maybe the sap from the enhds of the spruce needles. I also noticed hints of cola and peaty scotch. The body is full and creamy. Out of these traditional ales made by Williams Brothers, this one is definitely the best.


 SSSteve (2045), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
2.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/55/102/59/20
Oct 8, 2006  
may 98 sprigs. syrupy, caramel colored pour. no head. sugary sweet tart candy flavor. nutra-sweet, medicinal. malty strawberry aroma. not sure what to think about this. very odd stuff. it became very cloying by the end of the beer. very artificial and sugary. interesting, but i don’t like it.


 gnoff (3560), Göteborg, Sweden
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/513/20
Oct 8, 2006  
(33 cl bottle at Haket, Göteborg) Clear red brown color, creamy tan head. Sweet fruity and berry-like scent. Sweet taste, chocolate wild strawberry, nice as a dessert. Raises my interest to use pine and spruce in my own ales. MEdium bitterness. Sweet aftertaste.


 00cobraR (1096), Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/513/20
Oct 1, 2006  
Pours a coppery color with a biege head. Aroma is very malty and kind of sweet. Flavor was a little to sweet for my liking. not to bad but something i wont drink again


 muenster (339), Sevierville, Tennessee, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/516/20
Sep 29, 2006  
Bottle. Pours copper/brown with a thin off-white head. Wow, the aroma is a total malt-festival. Caramel, toast, toffee, and milk chocolate all are very prevalent. Flavor is sugar sweet caramel with maple syrup, some dark fruit, and a mild pine finish.



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