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.
Beer Ratings and Reviews:
[1] Review by cyrenaica from Milton, Ontario, Canada who has tried this beer once. (12/14/2008 4:19:34 PM)
"330ml bottle
6.5% ABV
I tried this beer on December 14, 2008 after purchasing a 4 pack of 'Historic Scottish Ales' from one of my local LCBO outets. The beer poured an transparent muddy brown colour with a short-lived thin head. The aroma was very weak, but there were hints of sweet malt. The mouthfeel was medium bodied, and midly carbonated. The flavour was bitter, and sweet. Hints of both spruce and pine come through with the malt. The ingredients do not list hops on the bottle - interesting."
Aroma:
4/10
Appearance:
4/10
Mouthfeel:
6/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(2.9)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 330ml @ $2.97 Unit Cost: $4.26 per Pint
[2] Review by aabrewer318 from Beaverton, Oregon, Djibouti who has tried this beer once. (11/2/2008 8:18:54 PM)
"Bittered with only pine/spruce. Very interesting beer to have, although it took me a few sips to get used to the balance. It has a nice earthy amber malt flavor. Good heartiness and strength for the beer and the malts matched well with the spruce and pine aromatics"
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
6/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.5)
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure Compared to this brewer's other beers: Not Sure
[3] Review by pfoxyjohn from Watertown, WI, USA who has tried this beer once. (9/2/2008 10:01:10 AM)
"Poured a ruby-tinged amber color from the bottle at the Royal Mile Pub in Wheaton, MD. Glass ringed with a thin, light white head. Sweet fruity nose incorporating light pine and spice. Soft, rich mouthfeel. Wine-like flavors with soft, mild piney notes. Smooth, fruity, soft, and mellow."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.6)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[4] Review by Sigmund from Hafrsfjord, Norway who has tried this beer once. (9/19/2007 5:26:43 PM)
"330 ml bottle, bought at Real Foods, Edinburgh. ABV is 7.5%. Deep amber coloured beer, large off-white head. Unusual sweetish aroma, notes of over-ripe raspberries and pine needles, not very pleasant. The flavour is very sweet and alcoholic, piney and sugary notes. Unusual beer, but is it really good? I’m sorry, but this is not for me."
Aroma:
4/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
5/10
Flavor:
4/10
Overall:
4/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(2.5)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 330ml @ $2.69 Unit Cost: $3.86 per Pint
[5] Review by beercronic from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada who has tried this beer a couple times. (6/15/2007 12:58:10 AM)
"This shit is wack. What do you say about a beer that has so much crap suspended in it that it looks like some acid trip bubble tea. I've had this sitting for 45 minutes and NOTHING has settled. I think the beer colour is orange / red or something...it's really hard to tell! Poured a small light tan head with some lacing. I cannot believe how much stuff is in this brew. Aroma is truly awsome and very strong. I don't know about the malts, but I'm everywhere on this - caramel, biscuit, dry cat food....probally more on the caramelly side if anything. The alcohol is there to be found but nothing that would turn you off from this. I don't know if I'm finding pine or not, like some other pine or spruce infested brews and I think that's what is so fine about the aroma. Has a dark, thick Belguim qualilty to it - plums and a sweet nutty fruit. Awsome. Now that it has warmed quite alot, I am finding the tree-ee-ness. As for the taste, what the hell is this? Do I love it or consider never buying another one? Sweet and tart and.....I just actually chewed something.....candy like but musty at the same time. Dirt? This is very complex. You can barely notice the 7.5%. More malts now - I'd have to say a mix of biscuit and caramel - it's really hard to say. Plums, spice and an empty watery taste sometimes too, usually on the back end of the flavour. Medium bodied. Soft feel with very minimal carbonation and an interesting bitterness. Finishes...chewy? dry? unknown. An excellent beer to try on occasion but who knows how you will react to it. Just bought it, may have been in the store for a month or more, BBD of Dec '07. Once I thin out my beer selection down to under 30 different types, I'll get more. i fear cellaring this but I may try just for the hell of it."
Aroma:
9/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
5/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.6)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 330ml @ $4.99 Unit Cost: $7.16 per Pint
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(2.9)
