Home • Beer discovery

Strong Ale

Category
Independent reference

What is Strong Ale?

An independent guide to the Strong Ale beer style, including typical flavor notes and representative beers.

Related styles

Gallagher's Beer Guide is an independent reference. We never accept payment to recommend beer.

Representative Strong Ale beers

  1. Adnams & Co. Broadside Ale
    Rich fruitcake aromas "“ almonds, zest and conserved fruit. A wonderful balance of malt and hop flav
  2. Adnams Broadside Ale
    Deep malty notes of caramel, toffee, and raisin with a hint of dark fruit and subtle bitterness, smo
  3. Amherst Half in the Bagpipe
    Amber in color, full-bodied strong ale with a prominent malt flavor delicately balanced with Golding
  4. Bandana Brewery Anniversary Ale
    Anniversary Ale by Bandana Brewery (Mankato, MN): A robust Strong Ale at 9.00% ABV from this Minneso
  5. Bell's Batch 8000
    Bell's Batch 8000 balances bold caramel malt richness with subtle dark fruit and warming alcohol not
  6. Brasserie Grain D'Orge Belzebuth
    Beer of top fermentation, Belzebuth represents the achievement of a more than one hundred year-old k
  7. Brasserie Grain D'Orge Grain D'Orge Belzebuth
    Brasserie Grain D'Orge Belzebuth balances rich malty sweetness with notes of dried fruit and a warmi
  8. Brewmasters Olde St.Nick
    Brewmasters Olde St. Nick offers deep caramel and toffee malt flavors with subtle hints of dried fru
  9. Brewmasters Restaurant and Brewery South Olde St. Nick
    Olde St. Nick by Brewmasters Restaurant and Brewery South (Kenosha, WI): A strong ale at 9.90% ABV f
  10. Brewmasters Restaurant and Brewery South Olde St. Nick
    Olde St. Nick by Brewmasters Restaurant and Brewery South (Kenosha, WI): A strong ale from this Wisc
  11. BridgePort Brewing Old Knucklehead 2000
    Old Knucklehead 2000 by BridgePort Brewing (Portland, OR): A strong ale at 9.10% ABV from this Orego
  12. Cervecería Kross Kross 5 Ale Fuerte
    Kross 5 Ale Fuerte presents a robust malt character with notes of caramel and dark fruit, complement
  13. Dick's Brewing Double Diamond Winter
    Double Diamond Winter by Dick's Brewing (Centralia, WA): A robust strong ale with 8.5% ABV from this
  14. Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra
    Dogfish Head Raison D'Extra bursts with rich raisin and dark fruit sweetness, balanced by caramelize
  15. Fish & Fish Tail Brewpub 10 Squared
    Fish & Fish Tail Brewpub 10 Squared showcases bold malt richness with notes of caramel and toffee, c
  16. Fish 10 Squared
    Bold caramel and toffee malt flavors with a warming alcohol presence and subtle earthy hop bitternes
  17. Fish Brewing Company & Fish Tail Brewpub Leviathan 2004
    Leviathan 2004 by Fish Brewing Company & Fish Tail Brewpub (Olympia, WA): A strong ale with a bold 1
  18. Fish Brewing Company & Fish Tail Brewpub Old Woody 2005
    Old Woody 2005 by Fish Brewing Company & Fish Tail Brewpub (Olympia, WA): A strong ale at 10.00% ABV
  19. Fish Leviathan 2004
    Fish Leviathan 2004 boasts rich caramel and toffee malt flavors with warming alcohol undertones and
  20. Fish WinterFish Ale
    Fish WinterFish Ale warms with rich caramel malt sweetness, hints of toffee, and subtle earthy hops
  21. Fuller, Smith & Turner PBC Fuller's Vintage Ale 1999
    Vintage Ale 1999 by Fuller, Smith & Turner PBC (London, London): A strong ale at 8.50% ABV from this
  22. Fuller, Smith & Turner PBC Fuller's Vintage Ale 1999
    Fuller's Vintage Ale 1999 by Fuller, Smith & Turner PBC (London, London): A strong ale at 8.5% ABV f
  23. Geiranger Bryggeri Bølga
    A strong, balanced, hop-forward ale with generous American and Australian hops, showing notes of pea
  24. George Gale & Company Conquest Ale
    Conquest Ale by George Gale & Company (Portsmouth, Hampshire): A strong ale at 9.0% ABV from this tr
  25. George Gale & Company Millennium Brew
    Millennium Brew by George Gale & Company (Portsmouth, Hampshire): A strong ale at 10% ABV from this
  26. George Gale Conquest Ale
    George Gale Conquest Ale offers rich toffee and caramel malt flavors complemented by subtle warmth,
  27. Golden Valley Brewery and Pub Tannen Bomb
    Tannen Bomb by Golden Valley Brewery and Pub (McMinnville, OR): A strong ale at 8.00% ABV, showcasin
  28. Grand Lake Brewing Plaid Bastard
    Plaid Bastard by Grand Lake Brewing (Grand Lake, CO): A robust offering in the Unique Brews category
  29. Grand Lake Plaid Bastard
    Grand Lake Plaid Bastard showcases rich caramel and toffee malts with a touch of dried fruit and a w
  30. Hair of the Dog Brewing Fred
    Fred by Hair of the Dog Brewing (Portland, OR): A strong ale at 10% ABV from this innovative Oregon
  31. Hair of the Dog Fred
    Intense caramel, toffee, and dried fruit flavors are balanced by a touch of bitter hops and warming
  32. Harvey's Elizabethan Ale
    Harvey's Elizabethan Ale showcases rich toffee and dried fruit flavors with a warming, boozy charact
  33. Jolly Roger by Drake's Brewing
    Jolly Roger by Drake's Brewing (San Leandro, CA): A strong ale from this California-based brewery, b
  34. Jolly Roger by Drake's Brewing
    Jolly Roger by Drake's Brewing (San Leandro, CA): A strong ale at 9% ABV from this California brewer
  35. JW Lees and Co (Brewers) Ltd. Harvest Ale 1997
    Harvest Ale 1997 by JW Lees and Co (Brewers) Ltd. (Manchester, Manchester): A strong ale at 11.5% AB
  36. JW Lees and Co (Brewers) Ltd. Harvest Ale 2001
    Harvest Ale 2001 by JW Lees and Co (Brewers) Ltd. (Manchester, UK): A strong ale at 11.50% ABV from
  37. JW Lees and Co (Brewers) Ltd. Harvest Ale 2002
    Harvest Ale 2002 by JW Lees and Co (Brewers) Ltd. (Manchester, Manchester): A strong ale at 11.5% AB
  38. Lagunitas Brewing Company The Hairy Eyeball
    The Hairy Eyeball by Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, CA): A strong ale at 8.80% ABV from this w
  39. Lagunitas Brewing Company Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale
    Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale by Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, CA): A strong ale at
  40. Lagunitas Sirius
    Caramel and toffee malt sweetness balanced by a touch of earthy hops. Smooth and warming, making it
  41. Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball
    Rich caramel and toffee malt flavors dominate with hints of dried fruit and subtle spice. A smooth,
  42. Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale
    Rich caramel and toffee malt backbone with hints of earthy hops and a warming, slightly boozy finish
  43. Lift Bridge Brewery Mega Bass
    Mega Bass by Lift Bridge Brewery: A strong ale at 12.00% ABV from this brewing outfit. Limited sourc
  44. Lift Bridge SILHOUETTE®
    Lift Bridge SILHOUETTE® by Lift Bridge Brewery: A strong ale at 11% ABV from this innovative brewery
  45. Lion Nathan Australia Hunter Street Hahn Special Vintage 2000
    Rich caramel malt and toffee sweetness lead this full-bodied strong ale, complemented by hints of da
  46. Long Trail Double Bag Ale
    Rich malt-forward character with notes of caramel, toasted bread, and a subtle sweetness, offering a
  47. Magic Hat Chaotic Chemistry
    Aged Barleywine Ale infused with the copper glow of more than 1,000 setting suns. This exceptional
  48. Magic Hat Thumbsucker
    Dark caramel and toffee malt character balanced by subtle earthy hops, with a smooth and warming fin
  49. Malt Shovel James Squire Australian Best Ale Limited Release
    Malt Shovel James Squire Australian Best Ale Limited Release showcases rich caramel and toffee malt
  50. Manayunk Nokdechiloff
    Rich caramel and toffee malt character with subtle notes of dark fruit and a warming finish.
  51. Mendocino Brewing - Hopland Eye of the Hawk
    Eye of the Hawk by Mendocino Brewing (Hopland, CA): A strong ale at 8.0% ABV from this well-regarded
  52. Mendocino Brewing - Ukiah Talon
    Talon by Mendocino Brewing - Ukiah (Ukiah, CA): A strong ale at 10.5% ABV from this Northern Califor
  53. Mendocino Brewing - Ukiah Talon by Mendocino Brewing
    Talon by Mendocino Brewing (Ukiah, CA): A bold Strong Ale with a hearty 10.50% ABV from this Califor
  54. Mendocino Eye of the Hawk
    Rich caramel and toffee malt sweetness with subtle notes of dried fruit and a touch of warming alcoh
  55. Middle Ages Tenth Anniversary Ale
    Middle Ages Tenth Anniversary Ale bursts with bold citrus, pine, and resinous hop character from ten
  56. Middle Ages Wailing Wench
    Middle Ages Wailing Wench showcases a bold malt sweetness with notes of caramel and toffee balanced
  57. Midnight Sun Fallen Angel
    Midnight Sun Fallen Angel entices with a rich blend of Belgian yeast character, delivering notes of
  58. Métier Manumission III
    Rich malt complexity leads with caramel, toffee, and subtle dried fruit notes, finishing with a warm
  59. Nodding Head Brewpub Wee Heavier
    Wee Heavier by Nodding Head Brewpub (Philadelphia, PA): A strong ale at 9.5% ABV from this Pennsylva
  60. RCH Ale Mary
    RCH Ale Mary features a rich, toffee-like malt sweetness balanced with subtle earthy hop notes, lead
  61. Remington Watson Smith Brewing Nocturn
    Nocturn by Remington Watson Smith Brewing (Waukesha, WI): A distinctive strong ale at 9% ABV from th
  62. Ridgeway Seriously Bad Elf
    Ridgeway Seriously Bad Elf offers deep caramel malt richness balanced by light earthy spice and a to
  63. Ridgeway Very Bad Elf Special Reserve Ale
    Ridgeway Very Bad Elf Special Reserve Ale showcases a toasty malt backbone with hints of dried fruit
  64. Rogue Ales Frosty Frog
    A strong, but well balanced winter warmer, this ale has extreme complexity made for a holiday feast.
  65. Rogue Charlie 1981
    Deep caramel and toffee sweetness with layers of toasted malt and a hint of dried fruit, this full-b
  66. Rogue Ten Thousand Brew Ale
    Rogue Ten Thousand Brew Ale showcases rich caramel and toffee malt flavors balanced by a mild hop pr
  67. SanTan Winter Warmer
    Rich caramel and toffee malt flavors dominate SanTan Winter Warmer, accented by warm cinnamon and nu
  68. Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier 2003
    Samichlaus Bier 2003 by Schloss Eggenberg (Vorchdorf): A bold Strong Ale at 14% ABV from this renown
  69. Stone Brewing Co. Arrogant Bastard Ale
    Arrogant Bastard Ale by Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA): A strong ale with unapologetic character,
  70. Surly Seventeen
    Surly Seventeen delivers decadent flavors of dark fruit, caramel, and toasted malt with a touch of h
  71. The Alchemist Kirsch
    The Alchemist Kirsch bursts with cherry-driven fruitiness balanced by sweet, caramelized malt notes,
  72. Three Floyds Chubby Brown
    Three Floyds Chubby Brown features caramel and toffee malt richness balanced by gentle earthy and fl
  73. Thunderhead Heavy Lifter VSB
    Sort of an Imperial ESB. We call it Very Special Bitter. Was served around 15 years ago as Remnant V
  74. Troegs Scratch #10
    Troegs Scratch #10 is a robust Strong Ale with rich caramelized malt sweetness, hints of dried fruit
  75. Unibroue 15
    15 by Unibroue (Chambly, Quebec): A strong ale at 10.00% ABV from this renowned Canadian brewery.
  76. Vetter�s Alt Heidelberger Brauhaus Vetter 33 Strong Ale
    Robust caramel malt sweetness balanced by subtle herbal hop notes and a warming alcohol presence, of
  77. Vetter�s Alt Heidelberger Brauhaus Vetter Vetter 33 Strong Ale
    Vetter's 33 Strong Ale boasts deep caramel malt richness balanced by subtle hop bitterness and a war
  78. Weyerbacher Eleven
    Weyerbacher Eleven showcases rich malt complexity with notes of caramel, toffee, and dark fruits, fi
  79. WinterFish Ale
    WinterFish Ale offers caramel and toasted malt richness balanced by earthy hop notes, with a smooth
  80. Yards Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale
    Yards Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale boasts rich caramelized malt flavors with subtle notes of toffee
Want a faster way to find beers you'll like? Try the Beer Discovery guide.