Heather Ales Fraoch (Bottle)

Brewed by Williams Brothers (Heather Ales)
Style: Traditional Ale
Alloa, Central, Scotland

Pours an apple juice color with hardly any head. Aroma is mainly flowery maltyness. Fairly thin and light. Seems watered down almost. Earthy malt touch, slight herbal aspect. Bit appley, with a later nutty toffee-like sweet hint. Has a light finish. Too thin, not impressive. If the flavors were fuller and the finish was more apparent it would be much better.

[417-20070709] 330mL (By Dec-07). Sweet evergreen and heathery floral aroma, reminds me of Pinesol cleaning solution. Clear, golden orange brown body with a quick bubbly off-white head. Sweet licorice background flavour lies on a bed of hay with an aftertwang. Medium body is watery. Unlike its pack brothers, this is drinkable and non-offensive.

500ml bottle. Vivid amber in colour with a small, tight white head and moderate carbonation. Aroma of honey, spring moorland flowers and an unusual bitter, woody herbal edge, almost thyme-like. Flavour was big, with lashings of heather honey, spicy fruit and a long, astringent finish. A pleasant change.

500ml bottle - $2.49 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia. Both "Feb" and 2010 are notched on the label. Appearance: Pours a lightly hazy, dark copper body with a smallish, frothy, white head. Smell: Earthy, vaguely bready pale malt nose with herbal, floral, zesty heather and sweet gale scents. Taste: Pale malts with a touch of toffee sweetness. Very slight bready quality. Taste of honeysuckle. Sans hops, so we find a spicy, floral, herbaceous quality midway to balance things out. You want to know something? Fairly modest, understated heather taste. Truth be told, this one really reminds me slightly of a pumpkin ale. Meager pinch of dried lemon peel. Also a small dash of white pepper and lingering taste of honey on the semi-dry finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-low carbonation. Drinkability: If you’re up for a little more honesty, then here it is: I’ve always generally avoided this one. But, I find it surprisingly refreshing and very easily drinkable. Maybe I’ll give that Alba a try one of these days.

500 ml bottle. Flowery aroma along with some malt notes present. Dark golden body with decent white head. A decent malted caramel flavor in this beer gives it some balance over the spicey start. Easy drinkable beer and filling.

Smells pretty nice. Was told this was a Scottish ale, what makes it traditional? A dry finish is noticeable, and this isn’t too malty. I could drink this again if I had to.

Grassy nose, gold color. Sweet honey malt, corriander, herbal notes. Medium body, Interesting blend but it doesn’t come together in balance for me.

Hazy, glowing golden colour with small white head. Big, firm aroma of earthy malts, spice (cinnamon, nutmeg) and cut grass. Very unique flavour with a big malt backbone and strong floral notes along with a bit of honey. Finish is dry, slightly acidic, with a pleasant hint of ginger. It took me a couple of mouthfuls to get into it, but I'm really digging this beer.