Strong British Ale - Old Ale

Type: Ale

ABV: 5.5 - 9

IBU: 30 - 60

OG: 1.055 - 1.088

FG: 1.015 - 1.022

CO₂ Volume: 1.5 - 2.3

Color:

10 - 22

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	Method	Views
Shipwreck Strong Ale	5.5 gal	8.82%	43.94	1.085	1.018	BIAB	5221
Ye Olde Ale	5.5 gal	8.48%	38.16	1.090	1.026	Partial Mash	3365
Jule-ale (Andrimne Old Ale)	20 L	6.59%	47.08	1.071	1.021	BIAB	3313
Red Sky at Night	5 gal	7.06%	61.21	1.079	1.025	All Grain	2927
castle red	25 L	6.63%	38.96	1.065	1.015	All Grain	2640
Welsh Strong Cask Ale 5 gallon	5 gal	6.08%	36.15	1.060	1.014	extract	2553
Old Mr. Brown's Squirrel Tale Ale	5.5 gal	8.57%	61.33	1.077	1.015	Partial Mash	2536
Old Fezziwig Clone	5 gal	6.37%	56	1.067	1.018	extract	2358
Jamil's Olde Treacle Mine Old Ale	6 gal	9.39%	72.31	1.094	1.022	All Grain	1981
Ye Olde Schindee Ale	2.35 gal	8.51%	70.63	1.091	1.027	BIAB	1914

Newest Old Ale Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Method	Views
Old ale	12 L	7.9%	52.35	1.079	1.019	All Grain	14
ere	13 L	12.22%	0	1.119	1.026	All Grain	10
Ye Olde Ale	2.5 gal	8.04%	59.88	1.083	1.022	BIAB	27
Terror Island Ale Mad Scientist Ale	2.75 gal	6.24%	45.87	1.061	1.013	All Grain	130
Wassail 2022	3 gal	7.04%	47.62	1.070	1.017	BIAB	46
Spiced Rye Ale	200 L	5.43%	19.26	1.059	1.018	All Grain	342
Stock Ale 2023	1630 L	6.32%	19.58	1.060	1.012	All Grain	60
Ye olde ale	31 L	8.16%	42.77	1.075	1.013	All Grain	62
King Arthur 2022	3 gal	6.38%	30.03	1.065	1.016	BIAB	269
Old Ale Assignment	8.5 gal	9.43%	68.66	1.089	1.017	BIAB	75

Fermentables Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale	117	United Kingdom	Grain	base malt	3.75°L	38	74%	17% - 100%
Molasses	85		Sugar	sugar	80°L	36	4%	0% - 17%
Caramel / Crystal 60L	38		Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	6%	1% - 15%
US - Pale 2-Row	37	US	Grain	base malt	1.8°L	37	67%	31% - 89%
American - Chocolate	36	American	Grain	roasted malt	350°L	29	2%	1% - 6%
United Kingdom - Black Patent	36	United Kingdom	Grain	roasted malt	525°L	27	2%	0% - 5%
United Kingdom - Chocolate	36	United Kingdom	Grain	roasted malt	425°L	34	3%	1% - 9%
Belgian - Special B	33	Belgian	Grain	roasted malt	115°L	34	4%	1% - 11%
Brown Sugar	31		Sugar	sugar	15°L	45	6%	1% - 29%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L	26	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	85	5	35%	3% - 100%
Fuggles	80	4.5	37%	3% - 100%
Nugget	28	14	60%	9% - 100%
Magnum	27	15	54%	8% - 100%
Target	25	11.5	43%	7% - 100%
Challenger	24	8.5	37%	7% - 100%
Cascade	23	7	27%	7% - 75%
Northern Brewer	23	7.8	39%	11% - 100%
Willamette	19	4.5	41%	10% - 75%
Bramling Cross	13	6.5	30%	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	16%	7% - 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	44	Fermentis / Safale	Ale	.0975	High	75%	54°F	77°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast	23	Danstar	Ale	Med-High	High	77%	57°F	70°F
Wyeast - London Ale III 1318	17	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	High	73%	64°F	74°F
Wyeast - London Ale 1028	17	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	Med-Low	75%	60°F	72°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05	12	Fermentis / Safale	Ales	Low	Medium	81%	54°F	77°F
Wyeast - Scottish Ale 1728	11	Wyeast	Ale	0.12	High	71%	55°F	75°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® NOTTINGHAM HIGH PERFORMANCE ALE YEAST	9	Lallemand	Ales	Medium	High	80%	50°F	72°F
White Labs - London Ale Yeast WLP013	9	White Labs	Ale	Medium	Medium	71%	66°F	71°F
White Labs - Dry English Ale Yeast WLP007	8	White Labs	Ale	Med-High	Med-High	75%	65°F	70°F
Mangrove Jack - New World Strong Ale M42	7	Mangrove Jack	Ale	n/a	High	79.5%	61°F	72°F

Other Ingredients Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Type	Use	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
Gypsum	45	Water Agt	Mash	14%	0% - 99%
Whirlfloc	31	Fining	Boil	64%	9% - 100%
Irish Moss	23	Fining	Mash	69%	0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	19	Water Agt	Mash	16%	0% - 70%
Lactic acid	17	Water Agt	Mash	73%	2% - 100%
Epsom Salt	16	Water Agt	Mash	7%	0% - 37%
Chalk	14	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 39%
Baking Soda	12	Water Agt	Mash	13%	0% - 40%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	10	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 67%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	8	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 43%