Williams Bros Fraoch Heather Ale

Williams Brothers Fraoch Heather Ale

Style: Heather Ale

Alcohol content: 5%

From: Kelliebank, Alloa, Scotland

Purchased from: Morrison's, Glastonbury
http://www.williamsbrosbrew.com/

Williams Bros Brewing Company is a Scottish family-owned microbrewery, founded and operated by brothers Bruce and Scot Williams. It is based in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, in central Scotland. Williams Bros started brewing in 1988. Their first ale was inspired by a 17th-century Gaelic recipe for leann fraoich (heather ale). The heather ale is made using sweet gale and heather flowers, and was named Fraoch, after the legendary Gaelic hero Fráech (or Fraoch). The ale was produced in a tiny brewery in Taynuilt railway station, which could make no more than five barrels per batch, just enough to supply five pubs across Scotland. As demand grew, the recipe was taken to the old Maclay's Brewery in the Scottish brewing town of Alloa. Now in it's 25th year, Fraoch continues to be one of Williams Brothers most popular lines and the subject of this review.

Colour: On the pour you are presented with a glorious light orange tanned coloured beer. This beer almost looks like an IPA. There is a beautiful white head which stays around for quite awhile. This will gradually reduce down to a small foam deposit. There is a small amount of yeast deposited in the glass. Skim it off if you can as it will taste rather foul!

Aroma: On the nose you are presented with aromas of sweet sugary molasses with hints of heather and lavender or fresh garden herbs. You can also pick out notes of honey or even this "miracle" manuka honey which I tried the other day in a health food shop.

Body: This drink is refreshing light on the first sip. You get a beautifully sticky coating on the back of the throat after every sip due to the honey and heather used in the making of this beer.

Taste: This beer tastes very sweet and smoky. There are rich peaty/ earth notes which reminds me a lot of a scotch whiskey from Scotland. This smokiness is under pinned by a sweet honey undertone. There is a slight acidic or bitter after tone which reminds me of a glass of Chardonnay. Blending these flavors together makes for an extremely fulfilling beer.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/windsor-and-eton-brewery-canberra.html
Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/kozel-dark-lager.html

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