Old Ale

Old Ale is an English Ale beer style. It typically presents as copper-red to very dark. Fruity esters can enhance and complement the malt aroma and ﬂavor proﬁle. Old Ales have malt and sometimes caramel sweetness. Very low to medium.

Notes: Low level attributes typical of wood aging such as vanilla are acceptable. Brettanomyces and acidity reﬂect historical character; low level attributes such as horsey, goaty, leathery, phenolic, etc. and acidity may be present and balanced with other ﬂavors. Residual ﬂavors that come from liquids previously aged in a barrel, such as bourbon or sherry, should not be present. When using these guidelines as the basis for evaluating entries at competitions, competition organizers may choose to split this category into subcategories which reflect strong and very strong versions, or historic and modern versions.

ABV: 6.3%-9.1%
IBU: 30-65
COLOR / SRM SCALE: 12-30
OG: 1.058-1.088
FG: 1.014-1.030

Alcohol & Bitterness

ABV:6.3%-9.1%

ABW:5.0%-7.2%

IBU:30-65

Perceived Bitterness:

Present but minimal

Color & Appearance

Color:

Copper-red to very dark

SRM:12-30

EBC:24-60

Clarity:

Chill haze is acceptable at low temperatures

Gravity & Body

Original Gravity:1.058-1.088

Original Gravity °P:14.3-21.1

Final Gravity:1.014-1.030

Final Gravity °P:3.6-7.6

Body:

Medium to full

Flavor Profiles

Malt Profile:

Fruity esters can enhance and complement the malt aroma and ﬂavor proﬁle. Old Ales have malt and sometimes caramel sweetness.

Hop Profile:

Very low to medium

Fermentation Character:

Fruity esters can contribute to the character of these beers. Alcohol types can be varied and complex. A distinctive quality of Old Ales is that they undergo an aging process, often for years. Aging can occur on their yeast either in bulk storage or through conditioning in the bottle. This contributes to a rich, wine-like and often sweet oxidized character. Complex estery attributes may also emerge. Diacetyl is usually absent in these beers but may be present at very low levels.

Style info provided entirely or in part by the Brewers Association beer style guidelines.

No beers have been reviewed in this style.