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	5898
Ye Olde Ale	5.5 gal	8.48%	38.16	1.090	1.026		Partial Mash	3768
Jule-ale (Andrimne Old Ale)	20 L	6.59%	47.08	1.071	1.021		BIAB	3650
Red Sky at Night	5 gal	7.06%	61.21	1.079	1.025		All Grain	3302
Welsh Strong Cask Ale 5 gallon	5 gal	6.08%	36.15	1.060	1.014		extract	3008
Old Mr. Brown's Squirrel Tale Ale	5.5 gal	8.57%	61.33	1.077	1.015		Partial Mash	2950
castle red	25 L	6.63%	38.96	1.065	1.015		All Grain	2931
Old Fezziwig Clone	5 gal	6.37%	56	1.067	1.018		extract	2906
Jamil's Olde Treacle Mine Old Ale	6 gal	9.39%	72.31	1.094	1.022		All Grain	2750
Ye Olde Schindee Ale	2.35 gal	8.51%	70.63	1.091	1.027		BIAB	2190

Newest Old Ale Recipes

Title	Size	ABV	IBU	OG	FG	Color	Method	Views
AGED WACKO	25 L	6.26%	34.75	1.060	1.012		All Grain	43
Old Ale	5 gal	6.81%	37.34	1.069	1.017		All Grain	52
Ol’ weirdo	25 L	6.17%	38.78	1.062	1.015		All Grain	27
TTL Old Ale	1.615 gal	8.08%	26.16	1.077	1.015		BIAB	77
Felis nigripes - session barleywiner	10 gal	7.39%	52.23	1.080	1.028		All Grain	87
Hooper's Old Peculier mk3c(i)	11 L	5.71%	13.13	1.058	1.016		All Grain	20
Nathan's Old Ale	5.5 gal	7.43%	0	1.082	1.025		All Grain	167
Winter Warmer	1 gal	13.32%	43	1.129	1.027		All Grain	132
High Gravity 2012 Christmas Ale	5.5 gal	6.56%	60.93	1.065	1.016		All Grain	156
Gamle-Erik v. 3	22.5 L	6.77%	32.14	1.071	1.020		All Grain	188

Fermentables Used In Old Ale Recipes (View More)

Name	Recipes	Country	Category	Type	Color	PPG	Avg. Usage	Usage Range
United Kingdom - Maris Otter Pale	128	United Kingdom	Grain	base malt	3.75°L	38	74%	17% - 100%
Molasses	92		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	40	United Kingdom	Grain	roasted malt	425°L	34	3%	1% - 9%
Caramel / Crystal 60L	39		Grain	crystal malt	60°L	34	6%	1% - 15%
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	36		Grain	crystal malt	115°L	34	4%	1% - 11%
Brown Sugar	33		Sugar	sugar	15°L	45	6%	1% - 29%
American - Caramel / Crystal 120L	31	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	92	5	35%	3% - 100%
Fuggles	88	4.5	36%	3% - 100%
Magnum	33	15	55%	8% - 100%
Nugget	33	14	65%	9% - 100%
Target	28	11.5	44%	7% - 100%
Challenger	26	8.5	39%	7% - 100%
Northern Brewer	26	7.8	38%	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	54	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	12	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	9	White Labs	Ale	Medium	Medium	71%	66°F	71°F
Wyeast - London ESB Ale 1968	9	Wyeast	Ale	0.1	Very High	69%	64°F	72°F
Mangrove Jack - Empire Ale M15	8	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	54	Water Agt	Boil	14%	0% - 99%
Whirlfloc	31	Water Agt	Mash	64%	9% - 100%
Irish Moss	25	Fining	Mash	68%	0% - 100%
Epsom Salt	22	Water Agt	Mash	6%	0% - 37%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	22	Water Agt	Mash	14%	0% - 70%
Lactic acid	19	Water Agt	Mash	73%	2% - 100%
Chalk	19	Water Agt	Mash	10%	0% - 39%
Baking Soda	15	Water Agt	Mash	13%	0% - 40%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate)	10	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 67%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous)	10	Water Agt	Mash	11%	0% - 43%

Photos