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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.

3.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
JohnnyOS (646) - Golden, Wisconsin, USA - JAN 25, 2008
Pours dark amber with minimal head. Aroma of dark fruit, citrus and pine-sol. Flavor matches aroma nicely. Nicely done.

3.6
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
Immy (1942) - Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA - JAN 23, 2008
330ml bottle, best by April 09. Clear dark amber with no head. Nose is blackberry and raspberry over sweet malt with mild pine and a touch of citrus. Flavors are more berry, some herbal bitterness and a bit of pine. Rather dry finish, spicy and earthy. Damned interesting beer, and pretty drinkable.

3.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
WeeHeavySD (3341) - San Diego (Hillcrest), California, USA - JAN 22, 2008
12oz bottle from Cyn and shared with her as well. Pours orange with a tan ring. Hoppy citrus nose. Taste is strangely sweet and piney. Its hard to describe, its pleasent though and the abv is pretty nicely hidden. Nice brew.

3.8
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
MrRain (472) - St. Louis, Missouri, USA - JAN 21, 2008
I haven’t really been too impressed with Heather Ale Ltd. beers but his is one of their better ones. It’s interesting and tasty.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 13/20
McGarnigle (443) - Rochester, New York, USA - JAN 19, 2008
Bottle best before 2009; drank close to room temperature. Pours clear dark red/orange/brown. Fruity aroma. Full-ish body with low carbonation. Almost syrupy. No hops? It’s mostly malty anyway. Sweet, fruity and slightly spicy. I can’t really taste the twigs. Good beer.

3.5
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
Acarotibia (56) - Santiago de Compostela, SPAIN - JAN 15, 2008
Sweet pine aroma. Soft red/orange colour with soft foam. Original bitter flavor with sweet fruits in palate. Strong beer with a strong sweet palate. Take care if you drink with meal (you can kill food taste).

3.1
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
3fourths (6219) - Boulder, Colorado, USA - JAN 12, 2008
Cask at Bierra Paradiso. Clear dark rusty orange color. Moderately heavy honey and mapel malt nose, with just a faint bit of grassy, spicy, oily hops. Wet, low carbonation as expected, but a bit too oily and slick for my liking... makes me think of kelp with the slimy texture and slightly vegetal, twangy flavor. Earthy, peaty, spruce and pine spices along with some dull orange-flavored hops in the finish. Weird beer.

1.5
   AROMA 4/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 3/10   PALATE 1/5   OVERALL 4/20
zebracakes (1340) - Washington DC, USA - JAN 11, 2008
Bottle. Pours hazy orange salmon, thin white head that disappears. Aroma is pine, oak, acetone, malt, anise, molasses, alcohol. Flavor is acetone, dried fruit, cotton candy, alcohol. The nail polish (acetone) aroma and flavor really kill it for me.


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