Old & Strong Style Guidelines

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AHA 10a) English Old Ale / English Strong Ale

Higher alcohol version of pale ale though generally not as strong or rich as a Barleywine. Often regarded as winter warmers. Old ales have a fruity character although the finish may be dry. A bit syrupy when young, but improve with up to five years of aging. Long term aging in the bottle or tun may give old ales oxidative flavors like a fine old port or Madeira wine. They are medium to full bodied, with a nutty malt sweetness, and are very estery. Usually not very thoroughly fermented, so to leave some of the sweetness, flavor and body of the malt sugars in the beer. Color is usually light amber to very dark red. Hop flavor and bitterness is medium to high, but hop aroma is low from the aging process. Alcoholic strength should be recognizable. Low diacetyl is OK.

Commercial examples: Theakston's Old Peculiar, Old Buzzard, Wobbly Bob, Owd Roger, Young's Winter Warmer, Old Tom, Old Jock, Old Fart, Strong Suffolk, Gale's 5X, Gale's Prize Old Ale.

O.G.: 1.055 - 1.080; Alcohol: 5.5 - 8.5%; IBU's: 30 - 50; SRM: 10 - 16.

AHA 10b) Strong Scotch Ale

Scottish Strong Ale 90/-: In this style it is quite common for the fermentation to be roused so the yeast will stay in suspension and attenuate the beer. This is a full bodied beer with color that is deep copper to very black but not opaque. There can be medium to high diacetyl present. These beers are much less hopped than English Strong Ales. They have low to medium hop bitterness and the hop flavor and aroma is very low or absent. They are overwhelmingly malty with some kettle caramelization. Slight roasted malt qualities may be provide by the limited use of dark roasted malt or roasted barley. Faint smoky character is OK. Malt character balanced by clean alcohol flavors.

Commercial examples: Belhaven's 90/-, McEwan's Scotch Ale, Traquir House Bear Ale, Gordon Highland Scotch Ale, Caledonian Edinburgh Strong Ale, Rose Street Auld Reekie 90/-, Glaschu Double Whammy, Maclays Scotch Ale, Maclays Old Alloa Ale, Harviestoun Old Manor.

O.G.: 1.050 - 1.070; Alcohol: 5 - 7%; IBU's: 25 - 35; SRM: 10 - 35.

Scottish Wee Heavy: Very strong ale, usually dark, and always sweet and full-bodied. Strong malt character with faint roasty background. Hint of smoke (as a yeast byproduct, not from smoked malt) and some diacetyl acceptable. Low esters. Clean alcohol flavor balanced by rich maltiness. Deep amber to deep brown color. Hop bitterness very subdued and no hop aroma evident.

Commercial examples: Borve Extra Strong, Harviestoun Nouveau Ale, Campbells Scotch Ale, Belhaven Fowlers Wee Heavy, McEwans Scotch Ale, Orkney Skullsplitter Ale, Traquair House Ale, Fowler's Wee Heavy, Vermont Pub & Brewery Wee Heavy.

OG: 1.070 - 1.100; Alcohol: 7 - 10.5%; IBU's: 25 - 35; SRM: 10-47