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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.

3.6
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
fluids (364) - USA - 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.

3.4
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
papajohn (1232) - San Diego (Mira Mesa), California, USA - 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.

3.8
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
Eyedrinkale (3214) - Astoria, New York, USA - 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!

4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20
hippie4beer (162) - Indianapolis, Indiana, USA - 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.

3.6
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 16/20
elnadeau (786) - Laguna Niguel, California, USA - 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.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
TChrome (1315) - Bedford, Texas, USA - 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.

3.9
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
ABUSEDGOAT (1937) - California, USA - NOV 3, 2005
Bottle best before end of June 2004. Just a little late. Poured a clear amber body with a nice little head. Aroma comes off harmless enough. Malty with caramel and nuts, hints of berries, hops and maybe a hint of pine. Also some earth there. Flavor is completely different. If I could envision pine tasting good, this is it! Berry comes through as well, and some hop bitterness near the end giving a bittersweet finish. Far exceeded my expectations after their gooseberry brew. Wonderful.

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
rederic (2271) - montréal, Quebec, CANADA - NOV 3, 2005
Hazy amber-orangeish hue, with a shy tan-colored head, with a sweet caramelized malt, pine needles, spicy spruces aromas follow through on a medium-bodied palate with sweet, spicy, nice malty charecter, conifer, spruce and piney notes, leading towards a good malty finish.


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