A primarily English style of ale, Old ales are rich, sweet and dark, and usually possess a fairly strong flavour. Their characteristic body, flavour and sweetness derives from the fact that they are not thoroughly fermented, leaving much of the malt sugar in the beer. Despite high gravity, the actual alcohol content of these beers generally remains rather modest.

Commercial examples include Theakston Old Peculier and, the amusingly named, Robinwood Old Fart.