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Fraoch Heather Ale

Williams Bros. Brewing Co.
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🌍 United Kingdom · Ancient Herbed Ale · One of 1 Ancient Herbed Ales in hopIQ

The world's oldest beer style revived commercially — brewed using heather flowers, sweet gale, and elderflower from a 2,000-year-old Scottish recipe. Fraoch means heather in Scottish Gaelic. Floral and spicy with a distinctive herbal character unlike any other beer. Exported globally as Scotland's most iconic craft beer.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
golden8
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Each axis lands close to the centre in a considered, even reading.

A profile in balance where the form comes from all sides, every layer speaks in turn.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Ancient Herbed Ale.
Hop character
floral
herbal
earthy
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
spicy
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fraoch Heather Ale

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with bright clarity and fine carbonation. A delicate, wispy head forms and recedes quickly, leaving minimal lacing on the glass. The body appears light and translucent, inviting a crisp, refreshing character.

pale goldenclearfine carbonationdelicate head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent floral and herbal notes, driven by heather flowers and sweet gale. Underlying spice and a subtle earthiness emerge alongside light malty undertones. The aromatic profile is distinctive and complex, evoking an ancient botanical character rather than modern hop aromatics.

heather, sweet galefloral, herbalsubtle spicelight malz

◐ Taste

The palate enters clean and slightly dry, with the herbal and floral character carrying through strongly. Modest sweetness and a gentle malt backbone provide balance, while restrained bitterness (24 IBUs) allows the botanical adjuncts to remain the focal point. Mid-palate exhibits earthy notes and a smooth, elegant delivery without harshness.

herbal-floral dominantlight malt sweetnessgentle bitternesssmooth, dry

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and lingering, with herbal and floral notes persisting pleasantly on the palate. A dry, clean aftertaste leaves room for another sip without cloying or overwhelming.

dry, herbal aftertastemedium length
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
82
Appearance
78
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Fraoch Heather Ale

Serve at 10–13°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 10–13°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Fraoch Heather Ale

About Ancient Herbed Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Ancient Herbed Ale?

Ancient Herbed Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Ancient Herbed Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same floral, herbal, spicy character as Fraoch Heather Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.