Comparison
British strong ale vs Old ale
What is the difference between British strong ale and Old ale?
The short answer
The main difference is hop aroma: British strong ale has noticeably more of it than Old ale. Old ale also leads on acidity, funk and chocolate & cocoa.
Generated from the two style records. No editor has written this comparison up, so it carries no verdict beyond what the data supports.
Where they overlap
They share comparable bitterness, sweetness, body, overlapping strength ranges, the same style family — the boundary between them is narrower than the comparison suggests.
Side by side
| British strong ale | Old ale | |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Strong ale | Strong ale |
| Fermentation | Top-fermented (ale) | Top-fermented (ale) |
| Origin | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Category status | Established | Established |
| Strength | 5.5–8% ABV | 5.5–9% ABV |
| Bitterness (IBU) — IBU measures iso-alpha acids in the lab. It does not track perceived bitterness, which residual sweetness, body and roast all alter — compare the sensory rows below for how each actually tastes. | 30–60 IBU | 30–60 IBU |
| Colour — These are the same depth in the glass; colour is not what tells them apart. | Amber to dark brown — 8–22 SRM, 16–43 EBC | Amber to dark brown — 10–22 SRM, 20–43 EBC |
| Original gravity | 1.055–1.080 | 1.055–1.088 |
| Final gravity | 1.015–1.022 | 1.015–1.022 |
| Serving temperature | 10–13°C | 11–14°C |
| Carbonation | 1.5–2.2 vol CO₂ | 1–2 vol CO₂ |
| Glassware | Tulip glass | Tulip glass, Snifter |
| Clarity | clear | clear |
How they taste different
| Character | British strong ale | Old ale |
|---|---|---|
| Hop aroma | Low | Not characteristic |
| Acidity | Not characteristic | None–Low |
| Funk | Not characteristic | None–Low |
| Chocolate & cocoa | Not characteristic | Trace–Low |
| Caramel & toffee | Moderate | High |
Which should you choose?
- You want more hop aroma → British strong ale
- You want more acidity → Old ale
Derived from where the two actually differ. Neither is better — this is a question of which difference you want.