Old Ale

Old Ale

357 beers | 3.728 Avg Score

As their name implies, old ales are typically stocked or stored for long periods of time before consumption, the latter which traditionally involved blending the old ale with another "fresh" beer like a mild ale or bitter. Old ales could be viewed as strong mild ales that fall out somewhere in between strong bitters or brown porters and English barleywines. They are normally dark amber to deep brown in color with a head that may or may not impress (due to the age and relatively low carbonation). The style builds on several remaining unfermented sugars to offer chewy malty flavors (caramel, toffee, vinous, nuts, molasses, even light chocolate or roasted flavors and fruitiness), a firm and warming alcohol presence, and relatively low hop levels (especially after aging). Additionally, these beers can often take on oak, oxidized, and sour or lactic flavors after aging.

Beer | Location Reviews Score
Theakston Old Peculier
United Kingdom
68
3.710
Greene King Strong Suffolk (Olde Suffolk)
United Kingdom
37
3.833
Goose Island Christmas Ale
IL, United States
36
3.423
Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale
MI, United States
35
3.745
Full Sail Wassail Winter Ale
OR, United States
28
3.471
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 12 Year Special Reserve
United Kingdom
26
3.938
George Gale Prize Old Ale (Vintages through 2006)
United Kingdom
23
3.454
Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale
NY, United States
20
3.491
Breckenridge Autumn Ale
CO, United States
19
3.219
Samuel Adams Long Shot Old Ale
MA, United States
18
3.572
Kuhnhenn Fourth Dementia Old Ale
MI, United States
17
3.770
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 16 Year Special Reserve
United Kingdom
17
3.885
J.W. Lees Moonraker
United Kingdom
16
3.558
Southampton 10th Anniversary Old Ale
NY, United States
16
3.695
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 30 Year Special Reserve
United Kingdom
15
3.911
Eel River Organic Triple Exultation
CA, United States
15
3.623
Fish Tale Old Woody Strong Old Ale
WA, United States
14
3.753
Harviestoun Ola Dubh 18 Year Special Reserve
United Kingdom
14
3.964
AleSmith Decadence 2005
CA, United States
14
3.747
Robinson's Old Tom
United Kingdom
13
3.738