Heatherdale Ale
Salt Spring Island Ales

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From:
Salt Spring Island Ales
 
British Columbia, Canada
Style:
Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.57 | pDev: 17.93%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
21
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 04, 2019
Added:
Jul 28, 2009
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
A Salt Spring Style Heather beer, Heatherdale Ale was created for the world famous Butchart Gardens in Victoria. Heather ale is a Scottish (actually Pictish) style that dates back thousands of years (2000BC). Our Heatherdale ale is dark gold, lightly hopped with East Kent Goldings, then infused with the aroma of Heather flowers from the Butchart Gardens. Mild with a floral aroma.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Swans Brewery taproom on Vancouver Island.
Pours clear amber with a white, semi-durable head.
The aroma is mild, floral and hoppy.
The flavor follows and has mild bitterness.
Overall: interesting and worth trying
Jun 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.73 by Eric_Standard from Canada (BC)

Nov 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4.6 by agreenemma from Canada (BC)

Aug 28, 2018
 
Rated: 3.57 by derdtheterd from Canada (AB)

Nov 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.56 by souvenirs from Canada (BC)

May 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.49 by mouver from Canada (BC)

Mar 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.05 by ZachT from Canada (BC)

Jan 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.44 by Momon from Philippines

Jan 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by Howlader from Canada (AB)

Nov 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by FadetoBock from Canada (AB)

Apr 10, 2015
 
Rated: 2.25 by jmack116 from California

Sep 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Mack from Canada (QC)

Jul 09, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by CWVegas from Nevada

Aug 11, 2013
Photo of EspressoGuy
Reviewed by EspressoGuy from Canada (BC)

2.16/5  rDev -39.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
A: amber with orange hues; low carbonation visible.
S: nothing. I'm swirling and swirling this and can't get any aroma at all. OK, maybe a faint stale beer smell.
T: again nothing. I don't mean clean and crisp; I mean like a beer that is slightly stale and has lost all it's flavour. It doesn't taste bad or even offensive. Just bland. Which I guess means that it is offensive for (a) any artisan beer, and (b) one that charges craft beer prices.
M: fine. Medium-bodied, low to medium carbonation.
O: very forgettable.
May 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Stizz19

Sep 14, 2012
Photo of LampertLand
Reviewed by LampertLand from Canada (BC)

3.96/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Salt Spring Brewing 'Heather' Ale @ 5.0% served from a 650 ml bottle . 473 ml can
A-pours a clean & clear gold with very small head almost no lacing along the pint/tulip
S-a very mild floral with some honey aromas as well
T-mild tasting honey adds to the sweetness , with very little hop allowing a crisp finish
MF-light and low in carbonation almost a mead like character
Ov-after a walk in the world famous "Butchart Gardens" this beer is a must , to be able to pull one outta the fridge and enjoy the view of your own garden from the sundeck ... priceless
prost LampertLand
Jul 22, 2012
Photo of BashOnABike
Reviewed by BashOnABike from Canada (AB)

3.25/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4oz taster @ The Island Beer Festival, Club 919

I'll try my best at style-objectivity, since I have never had an Ancient Herbed Ale before and thought it tasted a little of old boot..

A: Earthy, gold-red, a little like mead, with pretty lacing and high retention (almost oily)

S: A lot like quinoa! Earthy, somewhat..pillish, like Codein. Lots of floral scents

T: Little like carob, again the old shoe, with a floral, long-lingering aftertaste.

M: Light, with moderate retention and low carb. The aftertaste was so strong, it was hard to notice the mouthfeel TBH.

O: Well, it's not my bag, but it was certainly flavourful. That being said, it wasn't all that complex, so probably not the best of the style.
Feb 27, 2012
Photo of CrazyMike
Reviewed by CrazyMike from Canada (AB)

4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear golden appearance with a small amount of head that auicy settles down leaving some retention. Smell consists of honey, some sweetness and a hint of malt and hops.

Taste is floral with honey and a hint of sweetness. Picked up some malt, hops and a hint of herbs and pine as well. Very light overall, but very refreshing. Light bodied with lots of carbonation. Aftertaste is a lingering floral, honey taste.

Overall, this beer doesn't have any crazy features, but very refreshing and the natural favors blend well together. Worth a try if your in Victoria.
Feb 17, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by EskimoDave from Canada (BC)

Nov 21, 2011
Photo of chumba526
Reviewed by chumba526 from Oregon

4.67/5  rDev +30.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
. I Had Heatherdale Ale at the GCBF in Victoria. It pours with a substantial but small amount of head.The carbonation is quite low making it light enough to drink a few. It has a light golden color to it. I was skeptical about this ale at first; heather flowers in a light ale did not seem to appealing. The smell was amazing thought; it had aromas of piney hops, a delicate malt aroma, and a flora smell that had a slight rose aroma to it. The taste was multi-layered and was delicate. The taste began with a smooth malt body which leads to a floral piney hop flavor which leads into the heather flowers. The flowers give it a natural almost sweet and sour taste to it that made the beer very unique and tasty. It's a shame it is only available at B Gardens, if you ever get a chance to try it go for it.
Sep 17, 2009
Heatherdale Ale from Salt Spring Island Ales
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 21 ratings