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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?  
 JayBaxter (386), Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester, England
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/104/515/20
Dec 5, 2005  
Crystal clear amber beer with an interesting sprucey aroma. Sweet jam taste with a dry finish, not the kind of beer you can drink one after the other but as a one off fine.


 Tmoney99 (4656), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/514/20
Dec 4, 2005  
Bottle. Hazy brown color with a large light brown head that diminished slowly. Good complex sweet piney aroma. Medium body with a sticky texture. Moderate sweet fruity flavor with average finish. Very interesting ale.


 fluids (364), USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/104/516/20
Dec 3, 2005  
Small white head. Caramel brown darkish light color.Piney malt nose. Vanilla caramel banana sweet flavor. Palate goes dry and bitter at the finish slightly.


 papajohn (1054), San Diego (Mira Mesa), California, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/104/515/20
Nov 27, 2005  
12 oz. bottle from HWC: Rich orange-amber color with a small fast fading off white head. Sweet purfumy aroma with hints of evergreen. Flavor starts lightly sweet with a little bite finishing kinda dry with the spruce comming thru. Medium body, creamy texture with light carbonation. Interesting.


 Eyedrinkale (3209), Astoria, New York, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/58/104/517/20
Nov 15, 2005  
’03 bottle. Caramel color, small fizzy head with a dusty, sour apple aroma. Taste is interesting and awesome right away. Sweet candy coats my tongue with grapes and bitter hops. Fuck yeah!


 hippie4beer (162), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/518/20
Nov 10, 2005  
Best beer I’ve had in the past month. Pours a great copper amber color. Great long lasting head. Very slight piney aroma. Taste is very complex, not what you expect. Tasty brew! You have to try it.


 elnadeau (786), Laguna Niguel, California, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/516/20
Nov 7, 2005  
Hazy amber with medium off-white head, aroma is somewhat sweet earthy malt. Taste is complex, with fruit, caramel, peat, nut and wood overtones. A distinctive and interesting creation.


 TChrome (1298), Bedford, Texas, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Nov 6, 2005  
Beer pours a nice copper color with a totally retained, creamy off white head. Aroma is nicely malty with whiffs of spruce and pine. Flavor is sweet and very vinous. Also some wood spiciness. A very interesting and enjoyable ale.



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