About
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.
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.
5.2/10
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Appearance 4
Aroma 4
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle, dated "Best Before Oct. 2000." Another cellared bottle from my stash, so I’ll try and compensate for its age: Pours a dark murkish brown with a thin head. There is a nice berry smell. The taste shows a slight amount of oxidation, and a malt character that has deepend. Berry taste is slightly too sweet for gooseberries, but then it becomes more tart toward the finish. Any hop character is severly diminished, but I could have thought there were other bittering agents at work. It has also gotten a little mediciny over the years. Interesting, and I’d say it’s aged out pretty well.
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Sep 2004
at 07:58
6.1/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottle Pours black witha light tan head and nice lacing. I expect strong aroma form something so stout-looking, but though there are the dark malt and roasted, coffee and chocolate, they are mild, mellow and faint. Flavors are of coffee and charcoal and a little sour something. Seaweed? Bitter but in a good way, smokey aftertaste and a sort of thin feel. Not bad.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Aug 2004
at 00:03
6.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Bottled (BB 08/2004)
Hazy light yellow. Very small white head. Sour, berry, yeasty, black currant aroma. Quite light, a bit sahti-like notes and witbier-like palate (some wheat flavor).
Hazy light yellow. Very small white head. Sour, berry, yeasty, black currant aroma. Quite light, a bit sahti-like notes and witbier-like palate (some wheat flavor).
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Aug 2004
at 14:19
6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Very pleasant looking golden ale with a light fizzy aroma and a coffee like flavour with a dry bitter finish, and malts as well. Overall quite a plain semi flavoured coffee beer.
Tried
on 10 Aug 2004
at 17:50
6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Dark brown brew with a light tan head. Some roasty aromas, some chocolate too. The flavor is slightly bitter, not quite a Porter, but not a Brown Ale either. Not bad, but I failed to detect anything that would indicate any flavor or aroma coming from the seaweed.
Tried
on 17 Jul 2004
at 17:30
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 8
Aromas of carmel, chalk, malt, and pine., with all of the same in the flavor. Sweet malt and heavy palate, with a chalky dryness. A very fine looking beer; dark brown with a head that lasts and leaves a lace on the glass. Aftertaste is dry with pine. Unusual and good, and for me that deserves a very high score.---------Ages well.
Tried
on 10 Jul 2004
at 20:14
6.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Interesting if nothing else, the beer tasted and smelled like the blueberry beers I’ve tried, and the fruit character seems to derive largely from its "skin," making this beer tannin-heavy, bitter, earthy, and only slightly sweet. Dry overall and backed by roasted malt. More of a fruit/spice beer, and there are very few of these I really enjoy.
Tried
on 07 Jul 2004
at 17:38
5.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 4
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Pours golden with a nice white head. Aroma is very herbal. Flavor is fruity and earthy. Just a little thick in the swallow. Its something different but nothing to go out of your way to find.
Tried
on 18 Jun 2004
at 19:51
5.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 5
Flat looking porter like appearance with a dense wheat like aroma and a dry floury flavour. Overall quite a flat and disappointing beer.
Tried
on 24 May 2004
at 20:35
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Deep black color, lasting brown head. Aroma is heavy roasted malts, coffee, bacon, smoked, a hint of fruit. Taste is also smoked and heavy roasted malts. Smoked palate.
Tried
on 09 Apr 2004
at 16:18