Historic Ales of Scotland

The Historic Ales of Scotland four-pack was the last alcohol purchase I made while in Atlantic City; wouldn't you know it, I never found the time to drink them there. It was only about a week ago that I squared myself away and tried them out.

These beers come from the Williams Brothers brewery and are packaged seasonally. Depending on the time of year you purchase the pack, you'll get four of five styles (Fraoch, Grozet, Alba, Ebulum, or Kelpie). My pack did not include Kelpie, which is a seaweed ale (I was a little disappointed by this, too).

Ebulum Elderberry Black Ale

In their words:
Introduced to Scotland by Welsh Druids in the 9th Century, elderberry ale was part of the Celtic Autumn festivals where the ale was passed round the people of the village.
This recipe was taken from a 16th Century record of domestic drinking in the Scottish Highlands. In mideaval times elderberries were used for many natural remedies and are known to be high in fruit tannins and oils. It is a rich black ale with fruit aroma, soft texture, roasted grain, and red wine flavour, with a gentle finish.

In my words:
This was my favorite beer in the pack. The nose was very big and full of coffee, toasted oats, and mocha. There was an undercurrent of astringent fruitiness as well. The mouth feel was light and angular with a streak of ripe cherries running through it. Ebulum left a light coating on the palate, which made for a long, lingering finish.

Alba Scots Pine Ale

In their words:
Introduced by the Vikings, spruce and pine ales were very popular in Northern Scotland until the end of the 19th Century. Alba is a "triple" style ale, brewed to a traditional Highland recipe using the sprigs of spruce and pine collected every Spring. This complex rich tawny ale is best drunk at room temperature from a wine goblet.

In my words:
The nose on this ale is crisp and more than a little shy. There's no hint of any malt or hops, just a light pine scent accompanied by a faint yeastiness. Alba hits the palate clean and then surprises you with a burst of wild berry compote; I found this surprise very welcome, but others who tried it felt that the fruit flavor was too overwhelming.

Fraoch Heather Ale

In their words:
Fraoch is Scotland's native ale.
Heather ale has been brewed in Scotland since 2000 b.c. Brewed using heather flowers and Scottish malt, it has a distinct floral aroma, full malt character and a dry wine-like finish. As one of the oldest style of ale in the world there are many legends and folklore surrounding it.

In my words:
Of all the beers in the Historic Ales of Scotland four-pack, this one had the most going on. There was a melange of very green floral and herbaceous scents; the highlights included the bitterness of fresh hops and the ripe earthiness of forest brush in the springtime. Underneath this was a quiet layer of yeastiness.
A hefty serving of malt gives Fraoch more body than the other beers, but it remained soft in the mouth feel. Like Ebulum, Fraoch coats the palate and has a longer finish. Additionally, there was a not unpleasant hint of fresh sawdust on the palate.


Grozet Gooseberry and Wheat Ale

In their words:
Since the 16th century Scots monks and Alewives have brewed special concoctions from a blend of malts, wild spices and ripe gooseberries. Bringing together these various ingredients in a beer the brewer attempts to offer a drink which is refreshing, full of flavour and a pleasure to consume. Amongst the Scots literati of the 19th century the Green Grozet was immortalised as 'a most convivial drink'.

In my words:
This was actually the most straightforward of the beers. The nose contained gooseberries and wheat with a hint of strawberries and yeast. In terms of mouth feel, Grozet was soft, round, and full like a Hefeweizen, but without the sweetness. The finish clings to the top of the palate and leaves a lingering nuttiness.

The Historic Ales of Scotland are only one part of Williams Brothers brewing; they also have an entire range of contemporary beers. Feel free to visit their website (or Scotland!) for more information.