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Home > Brewers > Scotland > Williams Brothers (Heather Ales) >

Heather Ales Alba

Heather Ales Alba

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 Percentile 
77
overall
A Traditional Ale brewed by
Williams Brothers (Heather Ales)

Alloa, Central, Scotland

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
5453.39/5.03.39/5.07.5%69.8 Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard P  Stats

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 RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 Ungstrup (11136), Frederiksberg, Denmark
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
Dec 15, 2005  
A slightly hazy red beer with a huge light brown head. The aroma is sweet and very fruity combined with notes of citrus and pine forest. The flavor is very sweet with strong notes of caramel combined with a citrus/pine note giving it a spicy note. The citrus/pine gives a really good balance to the sweet caramel. The end is dry and quite spicy again with the pine coming thru.


 omhper (10456), Stockholm, Sweden
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/105/57/103/514/20
Feb 28, 2002  
Nut brown. Medium bodied. Fruity. Nice, but where’s the pine?


 Papsoe (9999), Frederiksberg, Denmark
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/512/20
May 17, 2005    Updated: Feb 4, 2007
(Bottle 33 cl) Amber-coloured, presumably filtered with some sediment though. Sweetish almost honey-like. Has some Retsina-character - understandably. 240904


 Oakes (6853), Miami Beach, Florida, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/57/104/515/20
Nov 21, 2000  
The most robust and earthy of this series of specialty ales from Scotland. Delicious, complex, highly adventurous. Whether you get into it or not, this is a must try.


 yespr (6373), Copenhagen O, Denmark
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/514/20
Mar 29, 2008  
33 cL bottle. Pours cloudy orange with a lacing off-white head. Aroma has roasted malt, light fruity and an almost coffee/chocolate like note. Spiced flavour, light citric, I assume spruce. Ends with a caramel flavour and a smooth chocolate note and mouthfeel.




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