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	6652
Ye Olde Ale	5.5 gal	8.48%	38.16	1.090	1.026		Partial Mash	4555
Jule-ale (Andrimne Old Ale)	20 L	6.59%	47.08	1.071	1.021		BIAB	4202
Red Sky at Night	5 gal	7.06%	61.21	1.079	1.025		All Grain	4103
Jamil's Olde Treacle Mine Old Ale	6 gal	9.39%	72.31	1.094	1.022		All Grain	4091
Welsh Strong Cask Ale 5 gallon	5 gal	6.08%	36.15	1.060	1.014		extract	3954
Old Mr. Brown's Squirrel Tale Ale	5.5 gal	8.57%	61.33	1.077	1.015		Partial Mash	3832
Old Fezziwig Clone	5 gal	6.37%	56	1.067	1.018		extract	3762
castle red	25 L	6.63%	38.96	1.065	1.015		All Grain	3364
Ye Olde Schindee Ale	2.35 gal	8.51%	70.63	1.091	1.027		BIAB	2820

Newest Old Ale Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
Chad's Ol' Grey Dangling 'ALE'	5.5 gal	6.68%	54.67	1.070	1.019		All Grain	166
Old Brewer's Ale	5.5 gal	5.75%	48.06	1.064	1.020		extract	146
TRUB Old Ale	6 gal	9.4%	48.96	1.089	1.017		All Grain	420
Old Ale	23 L	5.59%	45	1.052	1.009		All Grain	162
Awesome Recipe	6 gal	7.41%	57.91	1.073	1.017		All Grain	194
Riggwelter/old peculiar clone	11 gal	5.58%	45.38	1.055	1.013		All Grain	291
Christmas Ale 2025	21 L	6.94%	37.38	1.068	1.015		All Grain	234
Cross Christmas Ale	26 L	5.73%	40.24	1.062	1.019		All Grain	330
Long Winter's Nap	5 gal	9.58%	56.12	1.098	1.025		All Grain	294
2 of 2 Hair of the Dog Adam Clone (Old Ale)	1 gal	11.32%	60.73	1.112	1.025		BIAB	369

Fermentables Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale	134	United Kingdom	Grain	base malt	3.75°L	38	74%	17% - 100%
Molasses	94		Sugar	sugar	80°L	36	4%	0% - 17%
United Kingdom - Chocolate	44	United Kingdom	Grain	roasted malt	425°L	34	3%	1% - 9%
United Kingdom - Black Patent	43	United Kingdom	Grain	roasted malt	525°L	27	2%	0% - 10%
Caramel / Crystal 60L	41		Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	6%	1% - 30%
American - Chocolate	38	American	Grain	roasted malt	350°L	29	2%	1% - 7%
US - Pale 2-Row	38	US	Grain	base malt	1.8°L	37	66%	31% - 89%
Special B	37		Grain	crystal malt	115°L	34	4%	1% - 11%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L	36	American	Grain	crystal malt	120°L	33	4%	1% - 11%
Brown Sugar	36		Sugar	sugar	15°L	45	6%	1% - 29%

Hops Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Average AA	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
East Kent Goldings	104	5	35%	3% - 100%
Fuggles	98	4.5	35%	3% - 100%
Challenger	35	8.5	38%	7% - 100%
Magnum	35	15	53%	8% - 100%
Nugget	33	14	64%	9% - 100%
Northern Brewer	33	7.8	38%	11% - 100%
Target	30	11.5	43%	7% - 100%
Willamette	23	4.5	44%	10% - 100%
Cascade	23	7	27%	7% - 60%
Bramling Cross	13	6.5	38%	15% - 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	61	Fermentis / Safale	Ale	.0975	High	75%	54°F	77°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast	22	Danstar	Ales	High	High	77%	50°F	77°F
Wyeast - London Ale 1028	17	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	Med-Low	75%	60°F	72°F
Wyeast - London Ale III 1318	16	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	High	73%	64°F	74°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® NOTTINGHAM HIGH PERFORMANCE ALE YEAST	15	Lallemand	Ales	Medium	High	80%	50°F	77°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05	12	Fermentis / Safale	Ales	Low	Medium	81%	54°F	77°F
Wyeast - Scottish Ale 1728	12	Wyeast	Ale	0.12	High	71%	55°F	75°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968	11	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	Very High	69%	64°F	72°F
White Labs - London Ale Yeast WLP013	10	White Labs	Ale	Medium	Medium	71%	66°F	71°F
White Labs - Dry English Ale Yeast WLP007	10	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	59	Water Agt	Mash	13%	0% - 99%
Whirlfloc	31	Fining	Boil	63%	9% - 100%
Epsom Salt	29	Water Agt	Mash	5%	0% - 37%
Irish Moss	27	Fining	Boil	68%	0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	27	Water Agt	Mash	14%	0% - 76%
Lactic acid	26	Water Agt	Mash	80%	2% - 100%
Chalk	22	Water Agt	Mash	12%	0% - 100%
Baking Soda	18	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 40%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	12	Water Agt	Mash	10%	0% - 43%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	10	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 67%

Photos