American Strong Ale

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by bubseymour, Mar 10, 2019.

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  1. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just sitting here sipping an Arrogant Bastard for first time in probably a year or 2. Got me thinking about the recent forum discussion about the disappearance of the Black IPA and a few other beer styles lately that hardly anyone is brewing and this style one definitely isn't being made much these days especially by locals outside of CA and maybe Oregon. It seems Stone and Lagunitas and a few other CA brewers created this style 20 years ago, and really it stayed a West Coast brewery standard but has fallen out of favor for big and sweet pastry brews in its place. Freemont, Bottle Logic and a few other new CA brewers are making some good ones just looking at the ratings, but will we see an expansion of this style or is bitter hops blended with brown sweetness just not in these days? Its a style that is definitely a good kick in the butt.

    Anyone have any locals making a decent one (or even dared to attempt to make this style at all over last few years)?
     
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  2. GOBLIN

    GOBLIN Pooh-Bah (2,676) Mar 3, 2013 Ohio
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  3. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You are correct. I had that beer in 2016 and gave it an excellent 4.4 rating. Honestly I don't know where/how I drank that beer, but I had it. At some point of sampling so many beers, its hard to remember them all.
     
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  4. Milktoast75

    Milktoast75 Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2012 Wisconsin

    Just tried Arrogant Bastard for the first time last week. I had been bypassing it for some unknown reason. Maybe I was believing the bullshit on their label.
    First few drinks were a wonderful slap on the face. Big. Bold. Loved it.
    Would love to find more like it Looking forward to what other members will recommend!
     
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  5. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Not sure I'd call AB an equivalent to a CDA. The closest thing to AB I can think of is Rogue Dead Guy. Not particularly a fan of either.
     
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  6. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    We don't have any locals making Strongs. Boulevard's Plaid Habit was outstanding, but their Grand Cru was even more outstanding.
     
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  7. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I'm not so sure that seeing new releases of strong ales have declined as such, or whether brewers are just choosing to use the style names of its close cousins, Old Ale and Barleywine when brewing a new beer. (Many of these probably have brewery-only availability.) There is such a fine line in the recipes for these three styles so that it's a blur where one stops and the other begins. But I do agree that there is not so much hype for all three styles, even during the cold winter months. The Russian Imperial Stout category appears to be king of the hill in popularity.
     
  8. tmalt

    tmalt Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2015 Florida

    Brown Shugga by Lagunitas is good.
     
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  9. readyski

    readyski Pooh-Bah (1,557) Jun 4, 2005 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Strong Ales are the OG hardman beer. I don't always crave them but when I do, no other style will satisfy.
     
  10. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    I don't think OP was saying AB is similar to CDA stylistically but rather, like the CDA, examples of an American Strong Ale are not easy to find these days and are very far from in vogue.
     
  11. MistaRyte

    MistaRyte Pooh-Bah (2,681) Jan 14, 2008 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    RJ Rockers Bell Ringer is fairly accessible... and a sneaky little b!tch.
     
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  12. Donco

    Donco Pooh-Bah (1,639) Aug 12, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Exactly what I was thinking.
     
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  13. drunkenmess

    drunkenmess Pooh-Bah (2,668) Mar 27, 2015 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Althought it hasnt been brewed in a few years Founder's Curmudgeon olde ale has been around forever and was a staple in my fridge to recently. Just think the style isn't a popular one, never really, only to certain drinkers. I personally really enjoy it. Brown Shuga is a bit sweet for my liking but Sucks was pretty decent. Just have to keep your eyes peeled. Far and few people brew one. Also like stated before some breweries blur the lines of a barleywine and the old ale.
     
  14. raynmoon

    raynmoon Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2011 Colorado

    Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye!
     
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  15. oldbean

    oldbean Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2005 Massachusetts

    I've always been under the impression that American Strong Ale was more of a catch-all than a particularly well-defined style. And just in this thread, references to Hop Rod Rye, Old Curmudgeon, and Arrogant Bastard aren't exactly paining a cohesive picture.
     
  16. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    So far, most people have been quoting the usual CA options that have been around for a long time/other nationally distributed ones (Boulevard). Old Ales and Barleywines are in the "family" for the style but there is a distinction. Any small locals of note doing them well or at all?

    The other interesting thing here is that it really seems to be one of the most regional styles (i.e. West Coast/CA) of most any out there that never really expanded to other US brewers too much.
     
  17. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    AB is very good and right around $10 for 6x16.

    I have had the seventh Son but I only get out to Ohio once a year or so at best. I think it was a four pack for around $10.

    AB is readily available.

    As far as locals , I cant recall seeing any but have not looked.

    Enjoy
     
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  18. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    I did a quick scan through the list of "American Strong Ale" beers listed here and came up with 10 Minnesota breweries that have a beer classified as "American Strong Ale" on this site in their active beers lists.
     
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  19. 5thOhio

    5thOhio Pooh-Bah (1,571) May 13, 2007 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm a big fan of Strong Ales too, especially with the sudden dominance of the "all hops all the time" hazy juicy NEIPAs, which I'm not a big fan of.

    Although I agree that it's a vague category, IMO, a strong ale has a solid malt base with a nice hop bite, which I would describe as a malty IPA.
    I would disagree that Old Ales and Barleywines are similar. The former is a deep, rich malt beverage with only enough hops to have their presence felt, like a Stout or Baltic Porter kicked up a notch. The Barleywines I've tried have a strong alcohol presence up front with a fruity flavor.

    Currently my faves, (whether they are labeled "Strong Ale" or not) are the aforementioned Seventh Son, Columbus Uncle Rusty, Phoenix Undertaker Imperial Rye IPA and Great Lakes Nosferatu, which is unfortunately a seasonal that is gone almost as soon as it's released.
    Also in my category of "malty IPAs" are Lagunitas' WTF (which is supposed to be out now but apparently isn't yet available east of the Mississippi), Undercover Shutdown also from Lagunitas, and Alesmith's Double Red IPA..
     
  20. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for checking into it, now you have me doing research around my area:
    Adroit Theory made 2, but no ratings/reviews since 2016.
    Appalacian Brewing made 1...no ratings/reviews since 2015.

    Blue Jacket made 1...no ratings/reviews since 2015.

    Brewer's Alley made 1 (no ratings/reviews since 2016)...however I know this beer has been on tap at their pub continuously over last 3 years and no one has rated it since 2016...so that is a Beer Advocate rating issue.

    Duclaw - Colassus - has current ratings

    Evolution has a few but only 1 recent additional (a big bottle/barrel Bourbon Migration series from 2017)

    Flying Dog made 1 in 2016 for their X-mas variety pack called "Naughty"

    Lost Rhino made one in 2015 but most recent rating is 2017.

    Loudon Brewing made 1 in 2018 (could be the 1st small brewery that made one recently in my area).

    Ocean City Brewing made 1 in 2014...no rating since 2017.

    Pratt St. Ale House made 2...none rated after 2015.

    So I found 1 recent addition and 1 that is still on tap I can vouch for. Everything else is pretty ancient. Maybe there is new releases and traffic on Untappd that isn't showing on BA. Who knows.
     
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