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Heather Ales

Williams Bros Brewing

Scotland, UK

The idee for Heather Ales came when archaeologists discovered a Neolithic shard containing traces of a fermented beverage made with heather flowers.

The first new brew was made in 1986. In 1992 was the first twenty thousand pints produced at the small West Highland Brewery in Argyll. In 1993, an agreement was reached with Scotland's oldest family brewers, Maclay & Co. at the Thistle Brewery in Alloa.

In 2000 was Heather ale produced at Strathaven near Glasgow at the Craigmill brewery. In 2004/5 Heather Ale Ltd relocates to Alloa and Williams Bros Brewing Co is now the new trading identity for the Alloa.

Introduced by the Vikings, spruce and pine ales were very popular in the Scottish Highlands until the end of the 19th century.
Alba. 7,5%. 2007.

Brewed with maltet barley, pine and spruce sprigs.
Introduced to Scotland by Welsh druids in the 9th Century, elderberry black ale was part of the Celtic Autumn festivals when the "elders" would make this strong ale and pass the drink round the people of the village. The recipe was taken from a 16th Century record of domestic drinking in the Scottish Highlands.
Ebulum. 6,5%. 2006.

Elderberry Black Ale in one line.

Brewed with maltet barley, elderbeeries, roasted Oats and barley and hops.
Ebulum. 6,5%. 2007.

Brewed with maltet barley, elderbeeries, roasted Oats and barley and hops.

Brewed in Scotland since 2000 B.C. From an ancient Gaelic recipe for "leann fraoich" (heather ale) it has been revived and reintroduced to the Scottish culture.

Fraoch, Heather Ale. 5,0%. 2004.

Brewed with malted barley, sweet gale and flowering heather. Made after a recipe from th 16th Century.

Grozet is auld Scots for Goosberry. Brewed with Gooseberrys, bogmyrtle, Meadowsweet and hops. The label is designed by students from Glasgow School of Art. The label is based on 1st millennium Celtic maze design.

Grozet, Celtic Ale. 5,0%. 33 cl, 2006.

Brewed with Gooseberrys.
Grozet, Celtic Ale. 5,0%. 50cl, 2007.

Brewed with Gooseberrys.
Heather Ale Grozet Grozet, Gooseberry & wheat ale. 5,0%. 50cl, 2008.

Brewed with Gooseberrys.

Williams Bros. Brewing. Dark ale.
Black. Dark Ale. 4,2%. 2008.

Williams Bros. Brewing. Golden Ale.
Gold. Golden ale. 3,9%. 2008.

Williams Bros. Brewing. Pale with barley and wheat.
Joker. Premium Pale. 5,0%. 2006.

Williams Bros. Brewing. Ruby color brewed with barley and wheat malt.
Williams Red Red. Ruby. 4,5%. 2008.

Kelpie is brewed with seaweed. The story says that prior to the 1850's there where many Scottish coastel alehouses. They brew ales with local malted barley witch was grown on fields fertilised with seeweed. This environment gave the barley a very specific flavour.

To this beer is the seeweed added in the mash tun.
Kelpie. 33cl, 4,4%. 2006.
Kelpie. 50cl, 4,4%. 2007.

Williams Bros. Brewing. Rich, dark and spicy porter.
Midnight Sun Midnight Sun. Spicy Porter. 5,6%. 2008.

Williams Bros. Brewing. Tayberry is a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry, originally grown ind the Tay Valley region of Scotland.
Róisin. Tayberry Beer. 4,2%. 2008.

Williams Bros. Brewing. 7 varieties of malted barley.
Seven Giraffes Seven Giraffes. Extraordinary ale. 5,1%. 2008.