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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Ratings	Average	Score	ABV	Style Pctl	Serve in
622	3.39/5.0	3.38/5.0	7.5%	75.1	Dimpled 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.

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SSSteve (2056), Atlanta, Georgia, USA

2.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
2.4	5/10	3/5	5/10	2/5	9/20

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
3.4	7/10	4/5	7/10	3/5	13/20

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 (1098), Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

3.1	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.1	6/10	3/5	6/10	3/5	13/20

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
3.7	8/10	3/5	7/10	3/5	16/20

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.

OhioDad (2491), Hilliard, Ohio, USA

3.6	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.6	6/10	4/5	7/10	4/5	15/20

Sep 24, 2006

12oz bottle from the mystery swap box! - Thanks! - Pours murky light brown with a short bubbly offwhite head that stays well and laces in layers.. Aroma is quite malty with caramel and toffee, just a hint of pine there but not too much. Flavor is good caramel, raisins, a touch of toffee, and some nuts, and light spice before the casual pine finish. Medium bodied without much carbonation and a lingering sweet aftertaste. Not bad at all.

fonefan (11003), VestJylland, Denmark

3.1	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.1	6/10	4/5	6/10	3/5	12/20

Sep 20, 2006

Bottle. Red brown color with a beige head. Malt and sweet caramel in the aroma. Roasted sweet caramel in the flavour.

jake65 (1698), Williston, North Dakota, USA

3.7	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.7	7/10	4/5	8/10	4/5	14/20

Sep 15, 2006

Bottle: pours a murky brown and amber color with a small head. Aroma is malty with pine notes. Taste is a well rounded blend of pine, malt, raison, fruitiness, and even a bit nutty. Finishes with that nice little pine note. Well done pine flavor without an overwhelming sense of chewing on a pine needle!

oh6gdx (8838), Vasa, Finland

3.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.4	7/10	3/5	7/10	3/5	14/20

Sep 12, 2006

Bottled. Clear amber colour, mediumsized beige head. Aroma is caramellish malts, hops and some fruity notes. Flavour is sweet caramel and fruit along with spices. Long spicy and fruity aftertaste.

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