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	6549
Ye Olde Ale	5.5 gal	8.48%	38.16	1.090	1.026		Partial Mash	4457
Jule-ale (Andrimne Old Ale)	20 L	6.59%	47.08	1.071	1.021		BIAB	4128
Red Sky at Night	5 gal	7.06%	61.21	1.079	1.025		All Grain	4033
Jamil's Olde Treacle Mine Old Ale	6 gal	9.39%	72.31	1.094	1.022		All Grain	3965
Welsh Strong Cask Ale 5 gallon	5 gal	6.08%	36.15	1.060	1.014		extract	3887
Old Mr. Brown's Squirrel Tale Ale	5.5 gal	8.57%	61.33	1.077	1.015		Partial Mash	3726
Old Fezziwig Clone	5 gal	6.37%	56	1.067	1.018		extract	3650
castle red	25 L	6.63%	38.96	1.065	1.015		All Grain	3306
Ye Olde Schindee Ale	2.35 gal	8.51%	70.63	1.091	1.027		BIAB	2690

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	68
Old Brewer's Ale	5.5 gal	5.75%	48.06	1.064	1.020		extract	50
TRUB Old Ale	6 gal	9.4%	48.96	1.089	1.017		All Grain	322
Old Ale	23 L	5.59%	45	1.052	1.009		All Grain	105
Awesome Recipe	6 gal	7.41%	57.91	1.073	1.017		All Grain	131
Riggwelter/old peculiar clone	11 gal	5.58%	45.38	1.055	1.013		All Grain	213
Diamond Winter Ale	23 L	5.35%	21.18	1.058	1.017		All Grain	223
Christmas Ale 2025	21 L	6.94%	37.38	1.068	1.015		All Grain	167
Cross Christmas Ale	26 L	5.73%	40.24	1.062	1.019		All Grain	236
Long Winter's Nap	5 gal	9.58%	56.12	1.098	1.025		All Grain	236

Fermentables Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale	133	United Kingdom	Grain	base malt	3.75°L	38	74%	17% - 100%
Molasses	97		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	40		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%
Brown Sugar	36		Sugar	sugar	15°L	45	6%	1% - 29%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L	35	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	104	5	35%	3% - 100%
Fuggles	98	4.5	36%	3% - 100%
Magnum	36	15	52%	8% - 100%
Challenger	35	8.5	38%	7% - 100%
Nugget	33	14	64%	9% - 100%
Northern Brewer	32	7.8	38%	11% - 100%
Target	31	11.5	42%	7% - 100%
Cascade	23	7	27%	7% - 60%
Willamette	23	4.5	44%	10% - 100%
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	62	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	17	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	Med-Low	75%	60°F	72°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® NOTTINGHAM HIGH PERFORMANCE ALE YEAST	16	Lallemand	Ales	Medium	High	80%	50°F	72°F
Wyeast - London Ale III 1318	16	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
Wyeast - Scottish Ale 1728	12	Wyeast	Ale	0.12	High	71%	55°F	75°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968	12	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
Mangrove Jack - Empire Ale M15	9	Mangrove Jack	Ale	n/a	Med-High	72.5%	70°F	75°F

Other Ingredients Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Type	Use	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Gypsum	61	Water Agt	Mash	13%	0% - 99%
Whirlfloc	31	Fining	Boil	63%	9% - 100%
Epsom Salt	29	Water Agt	Mash	5%	0% - 37%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	28	Water Agt	Mash	15%	0% - 76%
Irish Moss	28	Fining	Boil	67%	0% - 100%
Lactic acid	26	Water Agt	Mash	78%	2% - 100%
Chalk	23	Water Agt	Mash	13%	0% - 100%
Baking Soda	18	Water Agt	Sparge	11%	0% - 40%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	11	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 43%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	10	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 67%

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