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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.

3.9
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
Kristall-König (1552) - Oldenburg, GERMANY - MAY 17, 2011
Optisch schön, erinnert an Kirschholzrinde. Malzig-süßer Geruch. Aromatisch. Sind das die Kiefern- und Fichtentriebe? Weicher Auftakt, malzig und süßlich. Später eigenartig würzige Züge. Ebenfalls würziger und langer Abgang. Interessantes Bier. Schmeckt.

3.9
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
Stephanos (617) - NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 15, 2011
Bottle tasted 2006 A light, almost lager pale ale with a sweet resinous aroma. Very sweet and quite lager like due to the absence of hops. A refreshing aftertaste, this beer is recommended.

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 13/20
BeerCast_Rich (1056) - Edinburgh, SCOTLAND - MAY 13, 2011
[330ml bottle, Peckham’s Bruntsfield, Edinburgh] Completely flat orangey amber colour. Smells like walking around a furniture showroom – sweet but slightly musty pine woodiness. Resinous pine sap on the taste, along with a decent hit of malty sweetness. A little smoke at the end maybe, but it does get a bit sweet. Having said that, I quite like it [19042011]

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 15/20
nike (500) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA - MAY 6, 2011
This one is different. At first sip I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this beer or not. Aroma of pines and sweet fruits, amber color small off white head. After a few more sips, I enjoyed the light pine and sweet taste. I was told to let it sit in room temperature. I believe every beer drinker should experience this beer, I don’t think I could drink more than two in a sitting.

3.5
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
Elwood (1834) - Between a rock and a hard place, Virginia, USA - MAY 1, 2011
Serving: 330 ml. bottle from State Line Liquors. It pours a deep amber orange with a small, dense, off-white head. The nose is malty with a good bit of caramel and a stale pine note. It’s surprisingly flavorful with fruit, spruce, toasted malt, and fig notes. Medium bodied with a good bit of soft carbonation leading to a sweet, fruity finish. Really quite different and an enjoyable experience.

3.6
   AROMA 10/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
Bierkrug (1643) - Idar-Oberstein (In Senegal), Rhineland-Palatinate, GERMANY - APR 24, 2011
Part of the first German beer tasting in Idar-Oberstein. Thanks to shrubber85 for this one. Pours an amber color with a very low head. Aroma is coco and rasberry, (really very nice). Taste ismuch the same. Palate is weak and kind of a let down but still good to this fine beer.

3.7
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
Travlr (4540) - Washington, Washington DC, USA - APR 24, 2011
Bottle at the first German local RateBeer tasting at Wasaba in Idar-Oberstein. Orange, thick beige head. Aroma of creme brulee crust. Taste of sweet butterscotch. Nice.

3.2
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
Blairgus (1019) - California, USA - APR 19, 2011
17 April 2011, bottle. light amber colour, clear, occasional bubbles. not finding pine on the nose. syrupy alcohol on nose. some raspberry jam maybe? ned body, flat up front w/ some carbonation at the end. taste is raspberry jam. not finding the pine. sweet and fruity. need to try again to try to find the pine.


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