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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?  
 Slick (1962), Thief River Falls, Minnesota, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/515/20
Jul 5, 2004  
Dark amber/brown color,small head that faded quickly and left nothing behind.The aroma was malty and piney with the flavor being much the same with a decent pine flavor coming through,with that flavor kind of hanging on the pallate for a short while.The hops are hard to detect through the spruce,but over all i’d have to say this is what i was going for when i did my spruce homebrew,although my brew didn’t come out as well as this one.Very nicely done brew that is well worth trying again.


 Rastacouere (5551), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/516/20
Jun 29, 2004  
Copper body, almost no head, looks pretty still. Nice floral aroma, piney, sprucey, very malty vienna-like cookieness. Mild fruity notes (peach, grapes). Somehow slightly bitter finish which I wonder if it comes from hops or is just an impression from the sprucey character. Good balance while being very original. Attractive. Very low carbonation, soda-like after taste, medium body. Thanks a lot Josh.


 Wakie (612), Centreville, Virginia, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/514/20
Jun 28, 2004  
Deep amber very reminiscent of a traditional scotch ale. Heavy malt aroma and flavor with just a touch of butterscotch sweetness. The only downer was a bit of watery finish.


 brewshthereen (316), Oregon, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/514/20
Jun 26, 2004  
Poured deep red with no head at all. Sweet, malty aroma with spruce and pine. Earthy, spruce flavors. Sweet maltiness. Taste seems trapped in the back of my throat. This beer is indeed interesting from a historical standpoint. For those who want to try something a little curious.


 Dickinsonbeer (3434), Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/516/20
Jun 23, 2004  
Deep amber/brown with a sligth head. Aroma is spicy with a fair amount of spruce- kinda christmas-tree-like. Tastes very piney and sappy with lots of maltiness. Mouthfeel is smooth and sweet with a taste that lingers on the tongue for a very long time. Surprisingly drinkable.


 robertsreality (2460), Minnesota, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/516/20
Jun 11, 2004  
Dark Browinsh in Color. Sweet, woody taste. Definitly carries a pine sprig note on the tongue. A very good ancient ale.


 sayravai (3720), Helsinki, Finland
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/102/57/103/513/20
Jun 9, 2004  
Hazy, light reddish-brown color with a tiny head. Interesting, sweetish, woody forest aroma with berries. Blackberry-raspberry-strawberry-pine flavor. Oily, slicky, medium-bodied palate with low carbonation. Hides the ABV well. A refreshing and different ale with lots of similarities with sahti.


 badgerben (3586), Blaine, Minnesota, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/515/20
Jun 8, 2004  
Pours a dark brownish color with little head. The aroma is slightly sweet, but lacks the hit of pine I was expecting. The taste delivers a medium malted punch along with the inevitable pine taste. It is not nearly as overwhelming as I figured it would be, but actually a little weaker than I was hoping for as well. It is certainly a different brew, one worth have on occasion.



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