Old Speckled Hen - Greene King / Morland Brewery

DuqTroops

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance - great looking amber in hue. little head, reminds me a lot of a guiness (milk stout), but reddish and lighter in complexion

Smell - malt and barley

Taste - very smooth, tastes like a malta, with lots of great flavors, but easier to taste everything

Mouthfeel - Very Smooth

Drinkability - much drinkability, my favorite part was getting my second one.

like it.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

12-18-2008 01:01:24 | More by DuqTroops

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Wonderful cascading head from this nitro-can. Creamy thick head with a clear, amber colored appearance. Excellent lace as expected.

There is a metalic aroma that detracts from the maltiness. Too bad, since the hop seems to be missing completely. The hop is very present in the flavor, although muted. This is predominately a malty beverage. Unfortunately, the metalic notes persist in the flavor, seriously compromising the malt flavors. Interestingly, I presume the hop aroma to be muted by this, while in the tasting, the malt is affected. Thinner than other nitro-can beers and slightly more carbonated.

Sadly, this had a poor showing in the flight of British Ales tested. I suspect that it would do well against beers that differ from the pale ale category. Head to head, this one falls short.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

08-07-2004 20:49:02 | More by smcolw

GreenWBush

Oregon

3.38/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A copper coloring creme emits itself via nitrogen into my pint glass.

Nose is gritty and sweetly malty with the nitro overpowering everything. Much like pudding is the floaty head that leaves streaks of presence. Hints of sulfur and diactyl on the nose are faint but noticible.

The mouthfeel is surprisingly cask-like, good flavor cut slightly down to a watery highly drinkable brew. Biscuit, vanilla, and corn sugar are detected. Hops are thin but slightly metallic through the nitro.

The taste is slightly adjuncty, sweet, and noble in being. If you like easy drinking semi-generic pale ales with nitro, this is a damned good one. The bottle is a bit more complex, and the Hen's Tooth is a more proper example of bottled real ale.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

04-25-2004 01:01:07 | More by GreenWBush

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a nitro-can, the beer looked beautiful…perfect, thick head with a creamy consistency…too bad I always think it’s a big gimmick. The color is a burnt golden hue…It really is attractive. Biscuit like, bread aroma and flavor. Moderate sweetness up front and subtle English hop balance. Very mellow, very creamy, very smooth. It’s certainly drinkable, but it’s also restrained, understated, and polite. Not bad for a relaxing afternoon with friends, but I’d rather reach for a more flavorful brew.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

02-01-2004 15:23:32 | More by Suds

Tobiasmjh

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.18/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Gorgeous summertime ale. Enjoyed poured from bottle on a beach in perfect sunshine! bright golden amber colour, clear as the sky I drank it under with a single centimeter of cloudlike head resting and holding for some time. Scent perhaps obscured by the saltiness of the sea but caught pleasant wiffs of apricot and berrys. distict peachy taste with slight hop bittering just like so many of the ales I like the most. 5.2% but didn't realise until part way through the fourth bottle!! Aha!

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 00:32:02 | More by Tobiasmjh

scotorum

Massachusetts

4.11/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Third of the four bottle "Hen House" variety pack I have tried. Somehow Hen's Tooth did not get reviewed.

a. Poured straight from the clear 16.9 oz. bottle into a Samuel Smith English Tulip pint glass. Beautiful translucent medium amber with an inch head which hangs on to a thicker than usual surface film surrounded by good lacing.

s. Mildly fruity. No noticable skunking.

t: As anticipated, refreshing mildly peachy-apricoty flavor.

m: Smooth, with light hop bite.

o: Somewhat similar to the Old Golden Hen already reviewed in its refreshing fruitiness, but OSH is lighter and with more of a distinct peach-like tinge. It was great as a dinner ale, and continued to delight as it was finished afterwards. Perhaps ironic that the entree was...chicken. Surely a fine choice in warm weather.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 05:23:01 | More by scotorum

Brenden

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A brightly clear pale ale, it's pretty much a stright dark yellow color. A nearly pure white head get up to a finger tall, and retention is good. Lacing is left on the glass in some thin legging off of hefty patches.
Toasty malts mingle with earth, wood and a lightly herbal bitterness. There's sweetness, too, from notes of toffee and caramel. A bit of yeast and nut rises up from below as the session continues. Some fruity esters make their way out in the flavor. It's an English pale, and for that it does well enough, but I still think a bit more hopping would do it some good.
There's a touch of smoothness in this beer that isn't particularly crisp. Barely more than light in body, it does seem to be stretching for medium and just makes it.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2013 22:52:19 | More by Brenden

StJamesGate

New York

3.54/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Bright mandarin with creamy craggy off white head.
Stewed apples and rising dough on the nose.
Granola, toffee and peaches up front with leafy, cedary hops.
Big Werther's finish and mildly bitter vegetal linger.
Soft, lt-med, creamy.

Malt driven, and there is a baseline of quality, but all toned down and a bit dull. A butter bomb when fresh on cask. A case study for Maris Otter.

Serving type: can

06-02-2013 23:17:28 | More by StJamesGate

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Pinkish brown with excellent, excellent tan foam and perfect lacing.

Smell: Cotton candy..very faint.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Fairly light flavor. Very creamy with a maple cotton candy flavor. Mouthfeel is like thin Guinness, definitely not my favorite.

Overall: Kind of a niche beer. Very similar to Boddingtons, and definitely better.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2013 01:07:57 | More by tjsdomer2

keeganfrank

Ohio

4.09/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Medium brown ale with a thin head that dissipates quickly. Aromas of nuts, caramel and wood. Flavors of mild spice and wood/leaves. Has a light, sessionable body and plenty of flavor. There was some mild skunk when the bottle was first opened but it became imperceptible after pouring. A great example of English ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 22:03:04 | More by keeganfrank

kilustration

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Light reddish in color, not much head or lacing.
S: Ok smell, taste was better.
T: Sweetish at first than bitter. Somewhat nutty or carmely. Pretty decent overall.
M: Was expecting a heavier mouthfeel, but was light - not at all watery.
O: Would drink again if it was presented.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 03:43:51 | More by kilustration

teromous

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Medium shade of brown with a hint of orange. The head is a thick creamy eggshell white. Brilliantly transparent, and the head coats the glass like thick cream, leaving a sheet of lace.

S: It has an interesting smell. At first it smells spicy, kind of like a gingerbread cookie. There's a bit of caramel scent in there as well.

T: It tastes just like it smells. There's a spicy character to it, which interlaces itself with the hop bitterness. There's a caramel cookie flavor to the beer.

M: The mouthfeel is very thin and watery, but it feels light with smooth carbonation.

O: Overall it's what you'd expect from an English Pale Ale. Easy drinking with just enough bitterness, but not too much.

Serving type: can

05-05-2013 21:04:17 | More by teromous

ONUMello

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

500ml bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Transparent amber with a one-finger head that settles quickly
S: Light malt, a hint of caramel and citrus
T: Like the nose - malt up front, some caramel on the midpalate and a light citrus note towards the end. Simple but unoffensive
M: Light-bodied with pleasant light carbonation
O: Nothing special here but I would drink this any day over anything in the BMC portfolio

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 03:21:45 | More by ONUMello

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

3.64/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

The bottle gets points for being reusable, but it's clear and so not exactly the best for storing beer for a long time because of UV exposure which makes beer taste skunky. But when I reuse these bottles I drink the beer first from the clear bottles.

The beer pours a crystal clear and deep amber color with a nice thin off-white head that remains throughout the drink as a thin ring around the glass with nice, but minimal lacing.

Initially cold out of the bottle the beer smells more skunky than malty. Not terribly skunky and definitely not detracting from the beer, really. As the beer warms in the glass the beer becomes more caramel malty sweet in aroma and notes of dark fruit and light bread come out. The skunky becomes barely noticeable.

The flavor is pretty much the same as the beer starts off sharp with carbonation then mellows to a lightly sweet flavor and as the cabonation completely flattens out some bitter from hops comes through with a faint skunk taste. Amoung the sweet there notes of caramel and dates, but very light. It finishes with a hoppy note a bit dry, but ultimately sweet overall and could be balanced a little better.

The mouthfeel is lightly sweet and medium to light bodied and it really drops off flat near the end and gets a bit watery. This may be a function of the carbonation which seems plenty enough until you get half way through the sip and it dies. There is a bit of a slimy feel on my tongue in between sips.

Overall I would give this beer high 3s out of five. It's an excellent beer, but not what I would call world class. Would I seek this out. Probably not as I have built up a list of beers in this realm that I like better. I do like it though! Would I recommend this beer? HAYLE YES! Just as I would recommend trying any new beer just to try something different because you never know if this could be the one! There is the chance this could be it for you.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 23:37:35 | More by WissBrauSean

JGargano

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This classic english pale ale is a good example of a well sessionable ale. Slightly on the sweet side this beer has a great up-front aroma and is very satisfying in the mouth.

An easy beer to drink for all occasions. Pairs well with almost any hearty food and can be enjoyed just as well on its own.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 00:05:37 | More by JGargano

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.56/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a pub draught can into a Fullers Imperial Pint glass. The pour is absolutely beautiful. The color is clear and coppery and the head cascades from bottom to top and forms a fine foam in pure draft-beer fashion that has outstanding retention and remains in tact at the bottom of the glass when you finish the beer (I freaking LOVE the pub draught can and I only knock it 0.25 points because, frankly, it's artificial). The nose is a little bit sulfery and skunky, but otherwise I get some toasted malt and toffee.

The beer has a medium body and a mild flavor. The taste is actually a bit better than the nose. There are soft bready malt flavors and just a slightly bitter hop note. The hops primarily contribute a peppery, herbal, tea-like character. The beer could definitely use more malty goodness as the feel is a bit thin.

Overall, a beer that is mild and drinkable and should accompany many dishes well (for you somaliers out there). I have been on something of a British Beer kick lately and will probably try several other new ones (new to me that is) before returning to this one.

Serving type: nitro-can

03-13-2013 01:56:52 | More by deadonhisfeet

doktorhops

Australia

3.45/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Old Speckled Hen is one of the many classic English ales I tried when I was visiting old Blighty. I do not recall if I enjoyed it at all (not a good start), however it comes in a fancy presentable bottle which in most cases means there is a fancy presentable ale awaiting, chip chip cheerio.

Poured from a puny 355ml bottle into a nonic pint.

A: Almost a startlingly clear orange in beerplexion with a creamy beige 0.5cm head.

S: Smells about as British as an ale can get: toffee toasted malts, touch of bread yeast, and light fruity hops with a dash of rustic earth hop notes as well. Darth Vader voice: "The aroma of a farmhouse English ale is strong with this one".

T: All the above notes present: toffee toasted malts, bread yeast, fruity/earthy hops with an additional knockabout on the palate from (I kid you not) barnyard hay. Intriguing in the totality of the essence of a farmhouse this ale presents, I feel transported to a sheep farm in Oxfordshire just from tasting this brew. There is a slight tingle of bitterness at the end just to let you know that there are hops in this ale.

M: Typically English with its mid to light body and light carbonation.

D: Pretty easy on the taste buds, well balanced but not easy on the wallet, and there are few English ales that you'll find here in Australia, aka "Expensalia", that are, which is a shame as I do enjoy an English ale. That aside how does it stack up to something more reasonably priced like "Old Hooky"? Fairly well, it has a rustic taste that Old Hooky comes close to but is it worth the added cost? You decide.

Food match: Old speckled roasted hen would go great with this.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 08:55:21 | More by doktorhops

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.04/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Pours a ruddy amber with a thin off-white head that recedes rather quickly.

S: Bready, biscuity malt comes through on the nose with just a hint of gingery, peppery, leathery English ale hops. Fairly simple aroma. Nothing particularly outstanding.

T: Notes of lemon rind, orange marmalade, pepper, leather, ginger, caramel, toffee, biscuit, and minerals swirl around the palate. The finish is crisp and dry with pronounced earthy, lemony ale hop notes.

M: Medium-to-full in body, very dry, and very firm. Carbonation is crisp and active. Very, very drinkable and not terribly filling despite the heavier than average body. I could easily have more than one of these in one sitting.

O: A nice, basic English ale. The mix of very traditional malt and hop flavors and the bigger-than-average body makes this an excellent readily available brew. It's not explosive, innovative, or exciting, but this is very tasty and very well-crafted for a mass-produced ale. Definitely worth checking out for fans of English ales and those curious about them.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 23:45:09 | More by mrfrancis

breakingbland

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A rich copper color. Small head that disappeared rather quickly. No lacing.
S: Not much aroma but a very slight skunkiness (which didn't carry over to the taste).
T: Lots of toasty and caramel notes. Starts out malty sweet then goes to a mild hoppy bitterness that fades rather quickly on the tongue. Leaves a pleasant lingering sweetness in the mouth.
M: Although this beer does not have a big character, it is not at all watery or thin.
O: I would definitely have this beer again. It's a pleasant, easy-drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 20:49:43 | More by breakingbland

Mendelbaum

4.1/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I'm on a Pale Ale trip right now. I tried this, Mirror Pond and Belhaven at the same time. This beer placed third behind Belhaven and Mirror Pond. I enjoyed it but like the other two better. It was third in flavor. Third in finish. If it were on sale I'm in.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 00:25:45 | More by Mendelbaum

silverking

Florida

3.88/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

It pours a nice, clear amber with a white head that fades fast. very little lacing. The smell is a little earthy. Notes of fig and molasses with a slight vegetative quality on the nose, with a little butterscotch as well. The taste is comparable to that of an oatmeal raisin cookie. There is also a slight underlying bitterness. The carbonation is delightfully light and it has a heavier mouthfeel than I was expecting.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 18:35:55 | More by silverking

harrymel

Washington

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Canned: unk

Nice amber color with a thick cream top a la nitro-can. Smells of light, sweet malts, some caramel, some milk, some tea and light grassy hops. Pleasant nose. Flavor carries plenty of amber malts, some tea, some slight wood character; overall not particularly complex, but quite well balanced. Full bodied with nitro carb and a forgettable finish. Overall, I find this can of beer pretty enjoyable.

Serving type: nitro-can

01-01-2013 05:26:31 | More by harrymel

fauxpunker

3.4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Very pleasing to look at. Nice, clear amber color. Love nitro cans for the head they leave. Thick, creamy, and white. Looks great holding it up to the light.
S: Very malty. Not much else to it other than straight malt. Not a bad smell, just not very exciting.
T: Very thin. Definitely tastes like the malty smell. Even then, it's muted. Very middle of the road. Not bad, just "meh".
M: Clean and light. Felt watery even. Could drink a lot very fast.
O: I bought this to use in a beer cheddar soup (naturally I drank some while I cooked). Definitely a beer you can drink with food. Not offensive, not super high alcohol, thin, and easy drinking. For a session beer, it gets the job done. Worked very well in the soup. Nothing spectcular here, like a good bar band. Fits in, makes things feel right, but never going to have a gold record.

Serving type: nitro-can

12-07-2012 15:32:23 | More by fauxpunker

jsisko01

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a deep amber/copper color with a centimeter thick head that dissipates instantly. Leaves a very nice lacing.

Smell - Sweet, buttery biscuits, earthy, and bitter.

Taste - The taste is actually pretty light.. Has a medium bitterness that follows throughout, herbal and earthy notes, butter, and caramel.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with light carbonation.

Overall - This is just a simple, light pale ale. Pretty drinkable

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 03:53:13 | More by jsisko01

Dave1999

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a transparent dark amber with a small white head.

The smell is sweet toffee and earthy hops.

The taste is sweet, a little buttery, toffee and pretty bitter.

The mouth feel is light to medium with quite a lot of carbonation.

A pretty decent bitter English pale ale. Quite different to it's American counterparts.

This was the bottled version, I would like to compare it to the nitro can.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 03:38:54 | More by Dave1999