Heather Ales Alba 3.38 634

Heather Ales Alba

	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
634	3.38/5.0	3.38/5.0	7.5%	75	Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein, Yard

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.

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goozen (1102), Leiden, Netherlands

3.7	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.7	5/10	4/5	7/10	4/5	17/20

Jan 17, 2009

Bottle 0,33ltr: Dark brown ale with an taste of an Nordic Pine forest, and hints of caramel.

BREWMUSKCLES (1096), New Jersey, USA

3.9	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.9	7/10	4/5	8/10	4/5	16/20

Apr 21, 2007

my kind of beer. i like it cold. just as they describe. wood and pine. medium body and a little slick. any weather beer. did’nt notice the alcohol.

Reid (1093), Salem, Oregon, USA

4.1	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
4.1	9/10	4/5	8/10	4/5	16/20

Nov 12, 2003

Bought in the slimline 11.2 oz brown bottle with the rather ugly, I am afraid, label :-). Says on the back this is a "triple style ale" intresting. The beer certainlly looks very nice pours a small frothy off white head that goes fast but leaves reasonable lacing..the beer itself is a lovelly golden amber colour and is attractivlly hazy. The aroma is very complex a mix of strong sweet malts..some pineyness and floral hops.. The taste is good also very smooth thers sweet malts to start then a pine bite followed by slight hops and ends up with a nice slightly warming alcohol flavour. very smooth in the mouth..easy on the palate for this much alcohol. A very drinkable ale..will try again..i have tried spruce flavoured beeer before this is slightly better.

SubstanceT (1091), Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

2.8	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
2.8	6/10	3/5	6/10	3/5	10/20

May 30, 2004

Interesting to say the least. Amber in colour with just a little head. The nose is full of citrus and surprisingly pine, smells like an evergreen piece of gum. The taste is malty with again that kick of pine. Not all that bad. Easily drinkable, but probably wont drink again.

Andrew196 (1091), Katy, Texas, USA

4.1	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
4.1	8/10	5/5	7/10	5/5	16/20

Nov 2, 2003

Mahogany in color with yellow edges. I like the aroma, blackberries and hops. Flavor was smooth and sweet til the end when some citric spiciness showed up on the tongue. This is a very likeable beer IMO, but where's the pine?

MAP (1089), Lakewood, Ohio, USA

3.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.4	7/10	3/5	7/10	3/5	14/20

Apr 20, 2004

Hints of raspbery and honey. Flavor is a nice smoother porter-esque feeling. Nothing too grand, ut still a decent brew.

MullMan (1089), Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA

3.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.4	7/10	3/5	7/10	3/5	14/20

Jul 19, 2007

tall creamy light tan head, dark auburn mostly clear body. aroma is dried berries, light spruce tips, and sweet fruity malt. flavor is kind of the same; a bit water but sweet malty and dry/fruity, with some more pine needles/spruce tips. not bitter like hop conifers though. finish is a bit more dry and bitter in an herbal kind of way. yes, a bit woody but more like sprig branches. would be fun to have on a camping trip.

obguthr (1083), Poquoson, Virginia, USA

2.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
2.5	8/10	2/5	4/10	2/5	9/20

Aug 6, 2009

Smells of raisins, maraschino cherries, and grass. Opaque ochre. thin tan head. Maraschino cherries and only the lightest malt flavor. Creamy mouthfeel, but alcohol content seems magnified. Unique, but only tates ok.

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