Strong British Ale - Old Ale

An ale of moderate to fairly significant alcoholic strength, bigger than standard beers, though usually not as strong or rich as barleywine. Often tilted towards a maltier balance. "It should be a warming beer of the type that is best drunk in half pints

Flavor Profile: Medium to high malt character with a luscious malt complexity, often with nutty, caramelly and/or molasses-like flavors. Light chocolate or roasted malt flavors are optional, but should never be prominent. Balance is often malty-sweet, but may be well hop

Ingredients: Composition varies, although generally similar to British Strong Ales. The age character is the biggest driver of the final style profile, which is more handling than brewing. May be aged in wood, but should not have a strong wood character.

BJCP Style Guide

Top 10 Old Ale Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
Shipwreck Strong Ale	5.5 gal	8.82%	43.94	1.085	1.018		BIAB	6166
Ye Olde Ale	5.5 gal	8.48%	38.16	1.090	1.026		Partial Mash	3988
Jule-ale (Andrimne Old Ale)	20 L	6.59%	47.08	1.071	1.021		BIAB	3836
Red Sky at Night	5 gal	7.06%	61.21	1.079	1.025		All Grain	3569
Welsh Strong Cask Ale 5 gallon	5 gal	6.08%	36.15	1.060	1.014		extract	3424
Jamil's Olde Treacle Mine Old Ale	6 gal	9.39%	72.31	1.094	1.022		All Grain	3323
Old Fezziwig Clone	5 gal	6.37%	56	1.067	1.018		extract	3246
Old Mr. Brown's Squirrel Tale Ale	5.5 gal	8.57%	61.33	1.077	1.015		Partial Mash	3216
castle red	25 L	6.63%	38.96	1.065	1.015		All Grain	3077
Ye Olde Schindee Ale	2.35 gal	8.51%	70.63	1.091	1.027		BIAB	2342

Newest Old Ale Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
Old Peculiar	23 L	5.38%	32.04	1.055	1.014		All Grain	68
Orbitando - Old Ale w/Juniper	20 L	6.79%	31.45	1.069	1.018		All Grain	71
Felis Nigripes 2025 - Session barlywine	38 gal	7.7%	59.07	1.083	1.029		All Grain	118
Yorkshire Stingo clone	5.5 gal	7.55%	60.98	1.080	1.022		All Grain	140
Old Ale	5.5 gal	13.26%	63.94	1.127	1.026		All Grain	151
Old Ale	10 L	8.85%	60.83	1.087	1.020		All Grain	198
Ramshackle	25 L	7.02%	44.94	1.072	1.018		All Grain	135
Old Man Winter Spiced Ale	5.5 gal	6.93%	49.76	1.073	1.020		All Grain	125
Hibernation Fuel	5.5 gal	7.47%	73.59	1.076	1.019		BIAB	125
Old English Ale	5 L	6.89%	0	1.072	1.020		BIAB	131

Fermentables Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale	131	United Kingdom	Grain	base malt	3.75°L	38	74%	17% - 100%
Molasses	96		Sugar	sugar	80°L	36	4%	0% - 17%
United Kingdom - Black Patent	43	United Kingdom	Grain	roasted malt	525°L	27	2%	0% - 10%
United Kingdom - Chocolate	42	United Kingdom	Grain	roasted malt	425°L	34	3%	1% - 9%
Caramel / Crystal 60L	40		Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	6%	1% - 30%
American - Chocolate	38	American	Grain	roasted malt	350°L	29	2%	1% - 6%
US - Pale 2-Row	38	US	Grain	base malt	1.8°L	37	67%	31% - 89%
Special B	37		Grain	crystal malt	115°L	34	4%	1% - 11%
Brown Sugar	35		Sugar	sugar	15°L	45	6%	1% - 29%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L	34	American	Grain	crystal malt	120°L	33	4%	1% - 9%

Hops Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Average AA	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
East Kent Goldings	99	5	35%	3% - 100%
Fuggles	92	4.5	36%	3% - 100%
Nugget	34	14	64%	9% - 100%
Magnum	33	15	53%	8% - 100%
Target	29	11.5	43%	7% - 100%
Challenger	28	8.5	38%	7% - 100%
Northern Brewer	28	7.8	39%	11% - 100%
Cascade	23	7	27%	7% - 60%
Willamette	22	4.5	44%	10% - 100%
Bramling Cross	13	6.5	37%	9% - 83%

Steeping Grains Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt)	3	American	Grain	crystal malt	1.8°L	33	15%	5% - 31%
Caramel / Crystal 60L	2		Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	42%	4% - 80%
American - Caramel / Crystal 80L	2	American	Grain	crystal malt	80°L	33	27%	14% - 40%
American - Chocolate	2	American	Grain	roasted malt	350°L	29	31%	20% - 43%
German - CaraAmber	2	German	Grain	crystal malt	23°L	34	23%	20% - 26%
New Zealand - Dark Chocolate Malt	2	New Zealand	Grain	roasted malt	659.898°L	32.7	16%	11% - 20%

Yeasts Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Laboratory	Type	Alcohol Tolerance	Flocculation	Attenuation	Min. Temp	Max. Temp
Fermentis - Safale - English Ale Yeast S-04	59	Fermentis / Safale	Ale	.0975	High	75%	54°F	77°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast	22	Danstar	Ale	Med-High	High	77%	57°F	70°F
Wyeast - London Ale 1028	18	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	Med-Low	75%	60°F	72°F
Wyeast - London Ale III 1318	17	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	High	73%	64°F	74°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05	13	Fermentis / Safale	Ales	Low	Medium	81%	54°F	77°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® NOTTINGHAM HIGH PERFORMANCE ALE YEAST	13	Lallemand	Ales	Medium	High	80%	50°F	72°F
Wyeast - Scottish Ale 1728	12	Wyeast	Ale	0.12	High	71%	55°F	75°F
White Labs - London Ale Yeast WLP013	10	White Labs	Ale	Medium	Medium	71%	66°F	71°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968	10	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	Very High	69%	64°F	72°F
White Labs - Dry English Ale Yeast WLP007	9	White Labs	Ale	Med-High	Med-High	75%	65°F	70°F

Other Ingredients Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Type	Use	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Gypsum	58	Water Agt	Sparge	14%	0% - 99%
Whirlfloc	30	Water Agt	Mash	65%	9% - 100%
Irish Moss	28	Fining	Boil	66%	0% - 100%
Epsom Salt	26	Water Agt	Mash	6%	0% - 37%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	25	Water Agt	Mash	14%	0% - 70%
Lactic acid	23	Water Agt	Mash	75%	2% - 100%
Chalk	20	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 39%
Baking Soda	16	Water Agt	Mash	12%	0% - 40%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	10	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 43%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	10	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 67%

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