Williams Brothers (Heather Ales)
Microbrewery
in Alloa,
Clackmannanshire,
Scotland 🏴
Associated with 2 Venues
Established in 1988
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.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Amber gold. Nice dusty malt on nose some green hopp character some citrus tangy/herby finish. Quenches the thirst amazingly well. Nothing stands out too much but the whole is very good
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Orange-amber beer with an olive shine; small off-white head. Imagine the smells of (natural) resin, pine and honey, and some wood. Mix it into a low-shrub. That’s heather - or Fraoch . Immensely original. My wife says cider. I find malt cookies, bitter pine resin, Retsina, some exotic after-shave. I’d like to acknowledgd heather, but to be honest, ’t is many a year since I smelt the moor, and even then, I hardly ever chewed the plant. Looked a wee bit tough for my lowlander teeth. Light body, but a slightly viscous texture, which points again to the resin. Refreshing thanks to a little tartness. Thé overwhelming importance is how Bruce Williams (immensely likeable guy) made a hit from this recipe, torn from times immemorial. This and his other ideosyncratic beers might signify the real meaning of Scots’ Ale. Thanks to Mat W. for the personal import.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5
Bottled. Deep golden, small head. Aroma of vanilla and orange. Sweet and soft with light body, but still with filling mouthfeel. The complex malt strucure is balanced by orangey hops. Salty finish.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Bottled. Deep amber, firm head. Aroma of peach and orange. Fairly sweet, well hopped with rather soft mouthfeel and medium body. The caramelly malt flavours are overpowered by piney, orangey hops. Lingering bitter finish. Good, hop dominated stuff - very un-Scottish.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Bottled. Near black, small off white head. Aroma of licorice and black currant. Drish with clean, rounded mouthfeel and fairly light body. Roasty with notes of coffee and chocolate. Restrained hoppiness, fairly low bitterness. (No, I didn’t cheat and look at the commercial description before I rated it...)
fiulijn (28444) reviewed Kelpie from Williams Brothers (Heather Ales) 20 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
Dark brown color. Some malt, loads of caramel, a bit thin mouthfeel, quite boring.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle. Black in colour. Thin head. Malty nose of coffee and dark fruits, slightly acidic in mouth, finish of hops and coffee/chocolate malts. Extremely tasty.
Ungstrup (52101) reviewed Kelpie from Williams Brothers (Heather Ales) 20 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
[At Københavnske Øldage 2005] A red-brown beer with no head. The aroma is sweet and slightly spicy. The flavor is quite roasted and malty with hints of chocolate and with a dry end. I can’t tell the seaweed, but I like the spicyness and roastyness.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Some apple aroma, and lots of herbs. I was looking forward to a peat aroma, e.g, Islay peat like in scotch, but it is not found. Copper color. Flavor is spicy, what Americans would describe as Italian spices. Chalky dryness in the finish. A well made beer, but I don’t think I am into heather.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5
[At Københavnske Øldage 2005] A red-brown beer with a disappearing beige head. The aroma is of roasted malt combined with hints of wood. The flavor is dry roasted with notes of malt on a slightly acidic background. The body is thin.
Brewery Stats
| Score | 6.53 |
| Beers | 170 |
| Ticks | 3660 |
Top Reviewers (Not including batches)
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allmyvinyl | 95 |
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cagarvie | 92 |
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Scopey | 92 |
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Stuu | 82 |
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jamestulloch | 64 |
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McCash | 61 |
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fonefan | 55 |
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Downender | 52 |
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BlackHaddock | 50 |
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berkshirejohn | 50 |