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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bluevegie (2228), Perth, Australia

3.3	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.3	7/10	3/5	8/10	3/5	12/20

Jun 21, 2006

Very sort of menthol taste and aroma takes a little getting used to, plain cola looking body without any sort of head. Medium body, interesting and certainly worth trying.

Saarlander (1589), Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA

3.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.4	7/10	4/5	7/10	3/5	13/20

Jun 12, 2006

Pine? Didn’t seem like much of it, but it had a great flavor that I can’t pinpoint, Sweet, with spice, almost like a christmas ale, but sweeter, maybe an candi sugar/liqourice flavor, good, but a little too sweet.

hammenlind (738), Sundbyberg, Sweden

3.8	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.8	7/10	4/5	8/10	4/5	15/20

Jun 11, 2006

Hazy amber colour, decent bubbly head. Oak, soy sauce, pine, mushrooms and earth in aroma. Flavour is slight vinous, sweet & spicy with some wood-ish hints. Some sweetened liquorice is present. Bitter and somewhat acidic finish.

eaglefan538 (2405), Wilmington, Delaware, USA

3.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.4	8/10	3/5	8/10	3/5	12/20

Jun 11, 2006

Ok, this one was odd, indeed. I almost feel guilty for giving it high marks in any category, but for what they were trying to do, they did it pretty nicely. The pour was amber orange with over an inch of head and great lacing. The head sustained itself quite nicely. Aroma was mostly spicey with some light pine and fruits. The flavor was outstanding FOR WHAT IT CLAIMED TO BE, much more pleasant than the pine from outrageous amounts of American hops, anyway (oooo, scorn me all you IPA purists, I don’t care). Spruce and pine were nicely done and really made this one fun for novelty purposes. Some berry type flavors in the background. That being said, this isn’t one I’d just go drinking any old day. This is a beer you do for the experience.

mckstud2 (3), USA
does not count

4.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
4.5	10/10	4/5	9/10	4/5	18/20

May 28, 2006

I would be satisfied with just smelling this beer - drinking it is an added bonus! Fruity on the nose, despite a fast-disappearing head. Very earthy tones that went down smooth. A must try in my book.

Tranquillity (1181), Espoo, Finland

3.8	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.8	8/10	4/5	7/10	4/5	15/20

May 25, 2006

0,33l bottle. Small white head which disappears quickly. Copper-ruby colour and an incredibly sweet, malty, burned aroma. The pine can clearly be tasted and reminds me of Finnish pine-aroma sauna. The aftertaste is fresh and dry. Truly one of the more spectalular beer experiences.

maniac (2771), Richmond, Virginia, USA

3.6	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.6	7/10	4/5	8/10	3/5	14/20

May 22, 2006

Clear copper body with a frothy white head. Sweet fruit and caramel aroma. Flavor of fruit, pine and noticable licorice

puzzl (2660), New York, New York, USA

3.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.4	8/10	3/5	6/10	2/5	15/20

May 18, 2006

Sweet, marshmellow, pine, chocolate aroma. The flavor is similar to the aroma though doesn’t work as gracefully. There is a rich hazelnut flavor, oak, a touch of pine, though it is very thin and there is a big alcohol kick, especially for 7.5%.

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