Strong ale is a beer style that packs a punch in both flavor and alcohol content. With a range of styles and brewing traditions, strong ales offer beer enthusiasts a unique and robust drinking experience.
One of the classic styles in this category is English Strong Ale. These beers are known for their rich maltiness, balanced hop bitterness, and higher alcohol content. They often have a deep amber to dark brown color and showcase complex flavors of caramel, toffee, and dried fruit. Fuller's Vintage Ale is a prime example of this style, with its full-bodied character and warming alcohol presence.
Old Ale is another strong ale style that is steeped in history. Traditionally aged for extended periods of time, these beers develop deep, rich flavors and exhibit a higher alcohol content. Old ales often have a dark, mahogany color and feature notes of dark fruit, molasses, and toffee. The iconic Thomas Hardy's Ale is a renowned example of this style, with its intense maltiness and aging potential.
Moving across the Atlantic, we encounter American Strong Ale, a style that showcases the creativity and boldness of American craft breweries. These beers can vary greatly in flavor profile and ingredients, but they all share a high alcohol content and a desire to push boundaries. American Strong Ales often feature a prominent hop presence, balanced by a strong malt backbone. Founders Brewing Company's Backwoods Bastard is a notable example, with its blend of bourbon barrel-aged Scotch Ale and English-style barleywine.
In Scotland, we find the beloved Scotch Ale or Wee Heavy. These beers are known for their rich, malty sweetness and a higher alcohol content. Scotch Ales often have a deep ruby to dark brown color and offer flavors of caramel, toffee, and a touch of smokiness. BrewDog's Paradox series exemplifies this style, with its barrel-aged Scotch Ales that deliver complex layers of flavors.
Belgium also has its own take on strong ale with the Belgian Strong Ale style. These beers are known for their fruity esters, spicy phenols, and a higher alcohol content that can range from moderately strong to dangerously potent. Duvel is a classic example of this style, with its effervescent carbonation, crisp dryness, and deceptive drinkability.
Emerging styles like American Double/Imperial Red Ale add to the diverse world of strong ales. These beers often showcase a rich malt backbone, a strong hop presence, and a higher alcohol content. They combine the best of both worlds, offering a balance between malt complexity and hop bitterness. Lagunitas Brewing Company's Maximus is a prime example of this style, featuring a bold hop character and a robust malt base.
It's worth mentioning Brewmeister Snake Venom, currently recognized as the strongest beer in the world. This Scottish ale is brewed with smoked, peated malt and undergoes a freezing process to remove ice crystals, resulting in an incredibly high alcohol content.
Strong ales encompass a wide range of beer styles, each with its own unique characteristics. From the rich maltiness of English Strong Ales to the bold creativity of American Strong Ales, these beers offer a memorable drinking experience. Whether you're a fan of deep malt flavors, complex aging characteristics, or hop-forward profiles, there is a strong ale out there to suit your taste. So, raise a glass and savor the robustness of these strong and flavorful beers.
What Is A Strong Ale Called?
A strong ale is commonly referred to by various names, depending on the specific style and origin. Here are some terms used to describe strong ales:
1. English Strong Ale: This style is characterized by its robust maltiness, strong alcohol content, and often fruity or caramel flavors. It is sometimes called “Old Ale” due to its historical roots.
2. Old Ale: Similar to English Strong Ale, Old Ale is known for its rich, malty profile and higher alcohol content. It can exhibit aged or oxidized flavors, providing a complexity that develops over time.
3. Scottish Ale: Scottish ales are known for their malt-forward character, with flavors ranging from caramel to toffee. Strong versions of this style are sometimes called “Scotch Ale” or “Wee Heavy,” indicating their higher gravity and increased sweetness.
4. Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy: As mentioned above, this term is used to describe strong Scottish ales. They typically have a strong malt backbone, with flavors of caramel, dark fruits, and a slightly smoky character.
5. American Strong Ale: This style is a bold interpretation of the traditional English strong ale, often with more hop bitterness and American hop varieties. It can showcase a wide range of flavors, including citrus, pine, and caramel.
6. American Black Ale: Also known as “Black IPA” or “Cascadian Dark Ale,” this style combines the dark maltiness of a stout or porter with the hop-forward character of an IPA. It is characterized by its roasty flavors, hop bitterness, and high alcohol content.
7. American Double/Imperial Red Ale: This emerging style is a stronger version of the classic American Red Ale. It features a rich malt profile with flavors of caramel and toasted bread, complemented by a pronounced hop bitterness.
These styles all fall under the category of strong ales, offering beer enthusiasts a range of flavors, aromas, and alcohol content to enjoy.
Conclusion
Strong ale is a diverse and robust category of beer that encompasses various styles and flavors. From traditional English ales like Old Ale and Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy, to American creations like American Strong Ale and American Black Ale, these beers are known for their high alcohol content and bold flavors.
Strong ales often have an ABV above 5%, with many falling within the range of 7-11%. They are brewed using a variety of techniques and ingredients, including smoked and peated malts, different types of yeast, and sometimes undergo multiple freezing processes to enhance their strength and flavor.
These beers are enjoyed by beer enthusiasts worldwide for their rich and complex taste profiles. They can range from malty and sweet to hoppy and bitter, offering a wide range of flavors to suit different palates.
Whether you're sipping on a traditional English Strong Ale or exploring the innovative creations of American craft breweries, strong ale is a beer style that provides a unique and powerful drinking experience. So, if you're a fan of bold flavors and high alcohol content, be sure to seek out a strong ale and enjoy the robustness it has to offer.
