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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.

3.2
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 12/20
thebeertourist (3981) - Oslo, NORWAY - FEB 4, 2006
Copper-coloured with a small off-white head.Sweet and intensely spicy (pine?) aroma. Flavours are predominantly sweet caramel, and the pine adds bubblegum-like flavours. Moderately dry finish. Full-bodied. An very interesting ale.

3.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
Spiesy (2336) - Sydney, Greater London, AUSTRALIA - JAN 31, 2006
Bottled. Nut brown colour with full, fluffy, tan brown head. Hoppy, pine needle aroma and flavour. Interesting blend of flavours I thought. More complex then your average brew with interesting, varied and long palate.

1.2
   AROMA 2/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 2/10   PALATE 1/5   OVERALL 3/20
Quevillon (1955) - Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, CANADA - JAN 26, 2006
C’était très dure à boire, surtout à la température de la pièce, j’aurais du la boire froide. De plus, je n’aime pas déjà le bière d’épinette.

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 13/20
beerledgend (1050) - Waterloo, Wellington, NEW ZEALAND - JAN 23, 2006
Dark amber in colour with small white head. very chunky sediment. Spicey aroma of pine. Warm mouth feel, hint of tropical banna esters.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
mkgrenwel (435) - Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA - JAN 22, 2006
Not at all what I expected from a pine ale. The dominant flavor is raspberry which, unfortunately, I don’t like much. It’s sweet and fruity in the front with grape, strawberry, raisin and that strong raspberry. This sweetness is completely unchecked (due to the lack of hops) and has the potential to be syrupy and cloying. But, then the pine comes in and cleanses the palate with a refreshing, crisp flavor. Hops clearly do a better job of balancing malt than pine and spruce do. However, this dynamic of all malt at first, and then all pine is something I like. I’d love to try more beers like this. Perhaps with some hops in there, the pine could actually stand out more, which I would like to experience. I’m glad I tried this, although it’s not my favorite.

4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
BobbyW3363 (154) - Portland, Oregon, USA - JAN 16, 2006
Hazy brown color with a small head that disappears quickly. Aroma is sweet, sprucy and malty. Flavor is piney and sprucy, with wood flavors, some sweetness. Overall well balanced and interesting flavor. Very nice texture and a nice finish.

3.8
   AROMA 10/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 15/20
raymow (745) - Bensalem, Pennsylvania, USA - JAN 13, 2006
Excellent sweet and fruity aroma and a great amber color. Taste is sweet (but in a good way) with an alcohol background. Interesting and different (also in a good way).

1.9
   AROMA 4/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 4/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 5/20
FistFullOfCats (163) - Raleigh, North Carolina, USA - DEC 27, 2005
Bottle. Pours a dark amber with a ok soapy, off white head. Head goes away pretty quick. Aroma is...odd. Wine? Pine. Strawberry. Flavor of...strawberry bug juice. Pine sap. Super light malt. Finishes with malt, wood, saccharine. Body is pretty standard, not too watery. Eh, this is ok, but strangely enough tastes artificial, like a diet soft drink or something. Normally I’m all for trying these traditional brews, but this was not too great.


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