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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 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
TheEpeeist (2368) - Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA - MAR 9, 2008
11.2 oz bottle. Clear brown with a slim beige head. Nose of, surprisingly, gummi bears and pine. Medium light with a mild tingle and resin. Taste is toffee and peach tempered with pine. Worth a try.

3.2
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
Jonte (1184) - Gothenburg, SWEDEN - MAR 8, 2008
Bottle. Sample at Ölfrämjandet meeting at Haket, Gothenburg. Reddish/orange color with an off white head. Aroma: Berries, sourness, caramel, herbs, some frutiness. Flavor: Berries, lightly sourness, herbs, spiciness, alcohol and some bitterness.

4.2
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 18/20
TrefwoordPunk (652) - Leiden, NETHERLANDS - MAR 4, 2008
Bottle 33 cl, served at room temperature in a trappist glass. Pours a dark reddish brown with a small head and a thin sweetish aroma. Sweet syruppy taste with a great herbal, almost medicine-like kick in the end. Bitter without hops, I really like this one. It’s geneous!

3.5
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
RichJ7 (1175) - Cullman, Alabama, USA - FEB 25, 2008
Slightly hazy reddish amber with a quickly fading off-white head. No real spruce or pine in the nose initially, just sugary sweet malt. very sweet malty flavor with the pine/spruce coming in for a crispy, herbal finish. Lightly syrupy on the palate. I was expecting more of a novelty beer here, but it’s a well-made ale in a very interesting traditional style, and it’s very pleasant and refreshing.

2.4
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 9/20
badlizard (4348) - San Diego, California, USA - FEB 18, 2008
from bevmo. Copper brown with a fizzy head. Sweet pine and caramel aroma. Overly sweet syrupy and strangely pine and berry cough syrup taste.

3.2
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
mutant (854) - Melbourne, AUSTRALIA - FEB 10, 2008
Small cream coloured head over a cloudy copper coloured body which contains tiny circulating particles. Strong sweet and floral aroma. Very sweet honey-like flavour. A little warming alcohol in the finish actually keeps this beer from being cloying. For lovers of non-hoppy beers only.

3.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
WillieV (197) - Maryland, USA - FEB 9, 2008
Bottle: Nice golden brown color to it with a very thin off white head. Very nice carbonation to it. Semi sweet scent to it. Sweet/nutty taste to it. Very smooth.

2.9
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 4/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
dolemite77 (184) - Maryville, Tennessee, USA - FEB 1, 2008
Lower ranking than most of my beers... maybe because I’m a bit confused. Smells like blackberry or blueberry pie. Which is probably much better than my rating, but just not what I expect a beer to smell like. Don’t really taste the pine in in... which is probably good... a little too sweet for me. Worth a rate though... if you can find it.


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