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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?  
DiamondD (38), Sammamish, Washington, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/57/104/516/20
Nov 27, 2004  
Pours a thick cloudy orangish brown with an medium off white head. Aroma is rich, malty and a bit on the lagery side. Slightly skunky. I really like the taste of this one. Good balance. Not to mention the pine and spruce that really shine through. Body and palate are perfect for the ABV. Very good. All those out there who are beer nuts like myself and have been exposed too much to American ales, should really step over to the Scottish and English brews.


 heemer77 (4294), Savannah, Missouri, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/513/20
Nov 20, 2004  
This pours a deep slightly cloudy red. A thin head stays on top. Aroma is a malty sweet orange with some pine. Also a floral quality to the nose. The taste is very sweet with granola and apples. Finishes with a nutmeg spice. Has a nice slightly dry finish, yet a slightly sweet aftertaste. A nice beer, but nothing get too excited about.


 mds (2112), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/514/20
Nov 19, 2004  
bottle. aroma of sweet berries, alcohol, and sweet malt. brown in colour with a tinge of orange/amber. full body. there is some pineyness to this, as well as being very sweet and alcoholic. sticky finish that lingers. Pretty good stuff!


 JadoreBlanche (114), London, Ontario, Canada
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/512/20
Nov 16, 2004  
Bottle: Pours a cloudy brownigh orage body with a minimal off white head. Aromas of malt and a slight sweet brown sugar smell. Has earthy smell but doesnt realyl smell like pine. Tatse is bitter sweet, and malty. Can tast molasses. Not a strong pine flavour present, but it is there. Watery finish, and bitter aftertaset.


 caledonian (367), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/103/514/20
Nov 14, 2004  
Bottled. Cloudy orangish brown. Faint aroma of pine branch if you look for it. Sweet flavor, too mixed to get much in the way of distinct flavors. It’s alright.


 beerhugger (541), Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
Nov 12, 2004  
Nice forest-after-a-rain, whisky, sweet malt, some fruit aroma. Thin head on a rich coppery-bown beer. Sweet, woody flavours of berries and a slightly artificial feeling finish. Not bad.


 DeepBlack (387), Derby, Derbyshire, England
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/102/56/103/515/20
Nov 8, 2004  
Bought in the bottle from the excellent "Beers of Europe" shop near Kings Lynn. A mid brown colour & a bit cloudy With ingredients like Scots Pine & Spruce Sprigs I didn’t know what to expect, what I get from this beer is the taste of Jam, quite wrird but also quite nice. Even my girlfriend quite liked this one :)


 MrManning (1634), London, Ontario, Canada
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/513/20
Nov 3, 2004  
Cloudy brownish/orange body with thin off-white head. Aroma of heavy malt, brown sugar, herbs, and pine as well.Tastes bitter-sweet, malty, molases. Watery finish, with some bitter notes.



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