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Old Ale

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A dark, soft and full-bodied ale for the colder months, on cask from October to March. Roasted malts and burnt sugars are laid over Maris Otter barley, with only a light bitterness from aroma hops. The nose is sweet and nutty; the palate brings dates, sultanas and other dried fruit, a little caramel and milk chocolate and a faintly vinous background. In 1952 it became the first Harvey's beer to win a national award.

ABV
4.3%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2026
Champion Beer of Britain
Brown and Red Ales, Old Ales and Strong Milds
Silver · 2019
Champion Winter Beer of Britain
Bronze · 2022
Champion Beer of Britain (regional, London & South East)
Gold · 2026
World Beer Awards
Mild Ale / Dark Mild
Country Winner · 2026
World Beer Awards
Mild Ale / Dark Mild
World's Best Mild Ale / Dark Mild · 2026
World Beer Awards
Gold · 2025
World Beer Awards
Country Winner · 2025
World Beer Awards
Bronze · 2023
World Beer Awards
Mild
World's Best Mild · 2015
World Beer Awards
World's Best Mild Ale · 2010
World Beer Awards
World's Best Standard Dark Beer · 2009
World Beer Awards
World's Best Mild · 2008
World Beer Awards
★Gold — Champion Beer of Britain (Brown and Red Ales, Old Ales and Strong Milds)
★Silver — Champion Winter Beer of Britain
★Bronze — Champion Beer of Britain (regional, London & South East)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastednuttydark fruit
roasted
nutty
dark fruit
chocolate
malty
caramel
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced sweetness and nuttiness, displaying the character of well-developed roasted malts and burnt sugars.
also:clean
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Old Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany brown with copper highlights, presenting a soft and inviting hue characteristic of roasted malt expression. The beer displays excellent cask conditioning clarity with a persistent, creamy head that clings to the glass with fine lacing. Carbonation is gentle and restrained, befitting its traditional cask presentation.

deep mahoganycreamy headsoft clarityfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced sweetness and nuttiness, displaying the character of well-developed roasted malts and burnt sugars. Dried fruit notes—particularly dates and sultanas—emerge alongside subtle caramel impressions. A faint vinous undertone adds complexity without dominating, while aroma hops remain discreetly in the background.

sweet, nuttyroasted maltdried fruitcaramel notes

◐ Taste

The palate unfolds with dates, sultanas, and dried stone fruits layered over a foundation of milk chocolate and gentle caramel. Maris Otter barley provides a soft, full body that carries these flavors smoothly across the mouth. Bitterness is restrained and refined, allowing the malt sweetness and vinous character to take precedence without any harsh edges.

dried fruitmilk chocolatefull-bodiedrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is warm and lingering, with dried fruit and subtle chocolate notes persisting on the palate. A gentle vinous quality and soft maltiness fade gradually, leaving a clean, slightly sweet aftertaste.

warm finishlingering fruitclean aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
79
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Old Ale

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About Old Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Old Ale?

Old Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Old Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, full-bodied, nutty character as Old Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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