Beer Style Guide: Get to Know American Strong Ale with Em Sauter
American strong ales are a catchall group of beers that essentially are maltier versions of double IPAs. They can be called various words like imperial amber, double red, imperial red or just plain strong ale. They are the middle ground between amber ales/best bitters and barleywines.
History of American Strong Ale
Although we are talking about a recently modern style of the past 20 years, the strong ale has a collective shared history with a historical style that dates from before Prohibition. The stock ale was a style from England also made in America that was the basis for their strong ales; a style that was brewed and then “laid down” for an amount of time, either opened for special occasions or blended into other beers.
In modern times these strong beers were particularly popular on the West coast in the early 2010’s. When I lived in Oregon, the IBU bitterness race was in full swing so very bitter beers like imperial or double red ales were quite popular with many breweries making them. Although the popularity of this style and other maltier styles has waned considerably, a couple of commercial examples are still brewed.
Tasting Notes
Since this group represents a wider group of beer styles that have collectively similar flavors and alcohol, strong ales can be brewed in a variety of ways but they all have similar aspects, like being brewed with pale malt plus dark base malt and perhaps some crystal malt. They are heavily hopped with usually American “C” hops like Cascade and Chinook for that classic pine resin and grapefruit flavor. American or English ale yeast would be used.
For flavors, you are looking for malt with flavors of graham cracker, whole wheat bread, or deep toast balanced by the fruit, dank and pine bough flavors and aromas of the hops. The beer is rounded out by alcohol warmth, which should not be hot or solvent-y.
Pairing
Indian curry
Since the alcohol is higher for this beer, you want to pair this beer with bigger dishes and because the hop character is usually high, I like to pair with saltier foods like steak, burgers, mild Indian curries or fried chicken since the alcohol and hoppiness can stand up to those big dishes.
Shark Attack
Beers to Try
Port Brewing Shark Attack Double Red
A year-round from San Marcos, CA and a classic of the category. Brewed with Centennial and Cascade hops and as dangerous as a shark attack at 9.5% ABV
Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale
Another classic of the category and a real time travel beer if you want to relive how beer tasted in 1997 when it was created. The hoppiness is balanced by a nice maltiness. Although their website says “you probably won’t like it” - I’m betting that you will. A little more mild in the ABV range at 7.2%.
Your local brewery, yes, the cop out answer but since this style is not much made any more on a large scale level, your local brewery may have the option for you! We live in a time where most people have a local brewery near them so take a visit and you may be rewarded by finding they brew this style.