BJCP 17B · Strong British Ale
Old Ale
A strong English ale with aged character: rich malt with caramel, dried fruit and sherry-like or gently tart notes. Complex, warming and with restrained bitterness.
Old Ale by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 5.5 – 9.0%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 30 – 60 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 10 – 22 SRM20–43 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.055 – 1.088on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.015 – 1.022on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What Old Ale is like
A strong, malty ale with aged character that can show pleasant sherry-like or leathery oxidation, dried fruit and sometimes a light acidity. It's complex and warming.
Appearance
Light amber to very dark brown, with ruby highlights. Cream to tan head, often with low retention.
Aroma
Rich malt with caramel, toffee, dried fruit or molasses, and aged notes such as sherry, port or leather. May show some alcohol.
Flavor
Dense malt with caramel, toffee, dried fruit and sometimes licorice or molasses. Moderate bitterness, a dry to sweet finish and an aged character that adds complexity. There may be a light acidity or Brettanomyces notes.
Mouthfeel
Medium to full body, with alcohol warmth. Low to moderate carbonation.
Where Old Ale comes from
It was the beer kept for months or years, often in wooden casks, to blend with young beer or to sell once mature. Modern versions vary widely in strength and degree of aging.
Ingredients
Pale ale malt with crystal, a small amount of dark malt and often sugars or molasses. English hops and English yeast; in some versions, Brettanomyces during aging.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Old Ale at home
Mash at 66-68 °C (151-154 °F) and ferment at 18-20 °C (64-68 °F) with a healthy pitch. What defines it is the aging: let it mature for several months at cellar temperature. If you want the Brett touch, use separate equipment, because it will contaminate the rest of your beers.
Food pairing
Blue cheeses, meat pie or desserts with nuts.
Glassware: tulip glass, it concentrates the aroma and holds the head.
Classic examples
- Theakston Old Peculier
- Gale's Prize Old Ale
- Greene King Strong Suffolk Dark Ale
Frequently asked questions
How strong is Old Ale?
Between 5.5% and 9.0% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a high strength.
How bitter is Old Ale?
It has 30 to 60 IBUs, a high bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is Old Ale?
Copper to dark brown: 10 to 22 SRM (20 to 43 EBC).
What food pairs well with Old Ale?
Blue cheeses, meat pie or desserts with nuts.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try British Strong Ale, Wee Heavy and English Barley Wine.
If you like Old Ale, try these
Classification and statistics: official Old Ale guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.