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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.


3.1
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 12/20
fonefan (23599) - VestJylland, DENMARK - SEP 20, 2006
Bottle. Red brown color with a beige head. Malt and sweet caramel in the aroma. Roasted sweet caramel in the flavour.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
Ungstrup (22911) - Oamaru, NEW ZEALAND - 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.

3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 12/20
Papsoe (21781) - Frederiksberg, DENMARK - 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

3.3
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
yespr (20656) - Copenhagen O, DENMARK - 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.

3.4
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
omhper (15600) - Stockholm, SWEDEN - FEB 28, 2002
Nut brown. Medium bodied. Fruity. Nice, but where’s the pine?

3.4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
oh6gdx (15510) - Vasa, FINLAND - SEP 12, 2006
Bottled. Clear amber colour, mediumsized beige head. Aroma is caramellish malts, hops and some fruity notes. Flavour is sweet caramel and fruit along with spices. Long spicy and fruity aftertaste.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
joergen (13935) - Frederiksberg, DENMARK - OCT 26, 2004
Reddish colour with a fine white head. Hoppy pinearoma. Sweet taste of malt, pine and alcohol. Nice and interesting beer.

2.9
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 12/20
MiP (11258) - Sønderborg, DENMARK - OCT 26, 2004
Bottle. Semi-sweet, standard bitterness. Not too distinct pine flavour, but enough to give a hint. Interesting enough, but gets boring after a while.


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