Old Ale

Courtesy of Moor Beer owner Justin Hawke, here is a homebrew-scale recipe based on their dark, rich, highly acclaimed old ale—“Christmas in a glass, all year long.”

Moor Beer’s Old Freddy Walker is among the most acclaimed strong ales in the United Kingdom, often medaling among the barleywines and old ales that compete for Champion Beer of Britain. Its brewer, however, hails from California. Here, Moor owner and head brewer Justin Hawke explains how Moor and Freddy came to be—and he offers advice on brewing a great old ale.

It was once indispensable to their refined character, but Brettanomyces is rarely involved with oak-aged barleywines these days—and that’s not all they’ve lost since the 1800s.

Here are four great examples of a style that doesn’t get much attention these days, despite the depth that reminds us why old ale endures.

This old ale is brewed with molasses, a robust malt bill, then oak-aged. The result is a rich malty delight that’s deceptively smooth and drinkable. Head Brewer Jeremy Kosmicki calls it a “nighttime sipper” and a respite from the hops-forward styles.

Old ales have a flavor profile that many younger drinkers, currently rapt with barrel-aged stouts, might love, says Jeff Alworth, thanks to complexity, acidity, and gentle sweetness that make them very contemporary.

This riff on old ale relies on an extended 3-hour boil for kettle caramelization and color, a technique normally associated with Scottish ales.

Here’s a recipe for Old Ale that includes flavors we often associate with aged beers but that can be developed without the risk of actually engaging in extended aging. Don’t let the name fool you.