Malt aroma & flavor
Medium to high malt and caramel sweetness. Very low levels of roast malt may be present.
British Origin Ale Styles
Strong Ale
Ale · Amber to dark brown
What to expect
Rich malt and caramel sweetness with minimal hop aroma and flavor. Fruity esters can add complexity to this medium to full-bodied strong ale.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
8–21
Pale / strawBlack
Amber to dark brown · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
7.0–11.3%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
30–60
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 4 · PDF page 13. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Not present to very low
Perceived bitterness
Present but minimal, and balanced with malt flavors.
Body & mouthfeel
Medium to full
Clarity
Chill haze is acceptable at low temperatures
Color
Amber to dark brown
Fermentation characteristics
Rich, often sweet and complex fruity ester attributes can contribute to the profile of Strong Ales. Alcohol types can be varied and complex. Diacetyl is usually absent in these beers but may be present at very low levels.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
When using these guidelines as the basis for evaluating entries at competitions, competition organizers may choose to split this category into subcategories which reflect strong and very strong versions.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.060-1.125 (14.7-29 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.014- 1.040 (3.6-10 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 5.5%-8.9% (7.0%-11.3%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 30- 60 • Color SRM (EBC) 8-21 (16-42 EBC)