Williams Brothers (Heather Ales)

Microbrewery in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Associated with 2 Venues

Established in 1988

Contact
New Alloa Brewery, Kelliebank, Alloa, FK10 1NT, Scotland
Description
Williams Bros Brewing Company is a Scottish family-owned microbrewery, founded and operated by brothers Bruce and Scot Williams.

The Williams Bros. Brewing Co. started life in the humble ‘Glenbrew’ homebrew shop in Glasgow. The first beer brewed was the ‘Fraoch’ Heather Ale at a small 5-barrel brewery in Taynuilt, After the 2nd year of brewing in the Taynuilt brewery and with demand far out stripping supply the brothers decided to expand and also to diversify the range with five Historic Ales. These ales were produced at the new purpose built brewery and premises in Craigmill, Strathaven from 1998-2004.

In 2004 the brothers took over the ‘Forth Brewery’ at Kellibank, Alloa where Maclay’s had been contract brewing and packaging their beers since the sale of their old Alloa brewery. It was at this stage in proceedings that Heather Ale Ltd became Williams Bros. Brewing Co.

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5.4/10 Appearance 5 Aroma 5.5 Flavor 5.5 Texture 5 Overall 5.5
Tried on 23 Jul 2026 at 20:52

6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 5.5 Flavor 5.5 Texture 7 Overall 5.5
Can from Morrisons. Golden body with a faint haze and a white head. Steady carbonation. Faint lacing. Aroma of straw and peach skin. Flavour of metal and orange barley. Thin to medium body with a watery texture. Soft fizz. Thin and subtle - not one of my favourite Williams beers.
Tried from Can from Morrisons Supermarket (Various locations) on 16 Jul 2026 at 22:03

6.5/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 6 Texture 7 Overall 6.5
500ml can from Asda in Inverness - Jet black body, thick foamy tan top. Burnt toast and roasted malts in the nose, not as much coffee in the taste as expected, a little bit of dark chocolate in the finish.
Tried from Can from Asda Supermarket (Various locations) on 29 Jun 2026 at 18:33

6.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Nose is coffee and toast. Taste is black filter coffee, hint of fruit, leading to my toast, sour note and more coffee. Very faint catering chocolate.
Tried on 25 May 2026 at 20:36

6.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 7
Can from Sainsbury's Edinburgh. Nose is pineappl, mango, slight melon. Taste is mango, pineapple, lots of lemon, slightly grassy, grain, hint of resin.

Solid campsite fare.
Tried on 25 May 2026 at 18:52

6.8/10 Appearance 9 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 6.5 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Tried from Can on 15 May 2026 at 18:02

6.9/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 5 Overall 7
Bottled. A golden beer with a white head. The aroma has notes of spices, citrus fruits, hopa, and malt. The flavor is sweet with notes of spices, pine needles, citrus fruit, hops, and malt, leading to a bitter finish. 7/4/7/3/14
Tried from Bottle on 10 May 2026 at 19:21

7.8/10 Appearance 9 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Can from Asda. Clear deep golden body with a thin white head. Steady carbonation. Aroma of pine, lemon and honey. Flavour of orange and white candy sticks. Medium body with a slick mouthfeel. Soft fizz. Solid gear.
Tried from Can from Asda Supermarket (Various locations) on 09 May 2026 at 17:01

7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 7 Overall 7
It is a regular stout, sweet but it is not at the extreme, few roasted malt, nice touch of chocolate, few hop, a bit watery at the final, 27.11.17, at Prélaz.
Tried from Can on 06 May 2026 at 21:20

7.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7.5 Texture 7 Overall 7.5
Pours clear orange with a lingering off white head that laces well. Smells of mangoes and pine. It tastes of caramel malt, tropical fruit, and a little pine. Moderately bitter with a medium body. Quite nice.
Tried from Can on 06 May 2026 at 03:46