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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
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
wetherel (1837) - Encinitas, California, USA - SEP 18, 2007
After enjoying Short’s spruce beer, I was excited to find another: Alba. unfortunately it has nothing to do with Jessica Alba. Best before October 2008. Pours with no head. Amber color with a slight murk. A small aroma of buttery caramelized malt. Maybe a slight woody smell. I keep sniffing over and over again searching for pine or spruce, but there’s none to be found. Flavor is a big vegetal and bit bland.

3.4
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
Pastor (700) - Maine, USA - SEP 12, 2007
pours cloudy caramel lite laceing aroma fruity alcohol tastes sweater than I expected for a pine ale . I’d drink it again

3.2
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 12/20
MarkoR (260) - Toronto, Ontario, CANADA - SEP 12, 2007
Very interesting beer. Smell of caramel. Pours a copper colour with a small head. Very nice flavor.

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
Guerde (960) - St. Paul, Minnesota, USA - SEP 4, 2007
(bottle, thanks JK) Pours amber with a white head. Aroma is piney with a malty sweetness too. Flavor is initially caramel malt, but then rounds out to a pretty nice piney finish.

2.4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 4/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 7/20
OSLO (1084) - Ames, Iowa, USA - SEP 3, 2007
[Bottle, thanks JK] Pours amber with a light tan head. Aroma was rubbing alcohol at first, but this diminished and then disappeared completely, giving way to a sweet smell of caramel and honey. Taste was not good--a weak malty taste that did nothing for me. Short finish. Thin mouthfeel.

4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 16/20
Kirill (277) - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - SEP 1, 2007
sweet caramel woody aroma... cloudy brown with quickly dissipating head... the woodyness really comes through in a REALLY good flavor and especially in the long finish... this was a great positive surprise

2.8
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 9/20
RoyceH (1129) - Hesperange, LUXEMBOURG - AUG 30, 2007
Bottle, RBESG Grand Tasting 07. Clear copper, thin white head. Nose is malty sweet. Mouth is malty alcoholic, some hop balance. Some pine aroma, but not sure if it’s the fake type, like the toilet duck variety Rubbery resin juice. Works ok, but wouldn’t go out of my way to get this.

3.2
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
Fin (5489) - Merton, Oxfordshire, England, Oxfordshire, ENGLAND - AUG 30, 2007
Bottle, my recent dip into a few Scottish beers courtesy of cgarvieuk aka Craig has made me seek a few more of them in particular this one that I’d had before but hadn’t ever rated. Poured copper in colour with small head. Aroma bit fruity some alcohol was there resin notes there? I’m not sure wonder if I’m just thinking that there should be, quite strong tasting bit malty, fruity and bitter. A good and rather interesting beer that I’m glad I’ve revisted but wouldn’t necessarily rush back to again in a hurry.


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