Old Speckled Hen
Greene King / Morland Brewery

Old Speckled HenOld Speckled Hen
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Greene King / Morland Brewery
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Pale Ale
Ranked #132
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
79
Ranked #26,645
Avg:
3.47 | pDev: 16.43%
Reviews:
1,010
Ratings:
2,326
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 06, 2024
Added:
Oct 23, 2000
Wants:
  62
Gots:
  371
The great British ale was first brewed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the MG car factory in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It was even named after the factory’s old run around car which was often parked outside the paint shop. Spattered in paint, the car became known as the “Owld Speckl’d Un”. The eagle-eyed might even see the resemblance between MG’s logo and the Old Speckled Hen label!

More than 35 years on, the great premium ale continues to be a finely balanced beer with a distinctive rich, malty taste and fruity aroma.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by lamergod:
Photo of lamergod
Reviewed by lamergod from Singapore

2.71/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Poured into a pint glass

App: A nice 3 finger fluffy bone coloured head. Nice copper body with slight carbonation.

Smell: Prominent malts, very slight hint of caramel and even less obvious hops at the end. Very sweet smelling beer.

Taste: Not very impressed. I was expecting a lot from this pint. Very nice malts runs around in your mouth. As it gets down your throat, taste of nice bitter english hops comes in with a dry finish to finish your mouthful on a high.

Mouthfeel: Very balanced carbonation. Nothing much noteworthy.

Drinkability. Quite drinkable, but the carbonation goes away very fast, so it isn't as drinkable as I hoped. I wanted a light bodied beer to go with some south park but I was quite dissapointed. I would rate it a medium body.

Overall, might go back if I have nothing to drink in the pub or if it's on sale.
May 13, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of robotic_being
Rated by robotic_being from Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On nitro draft.
Mar 06, 2024
Photo of detgfrsh
Reviewed by detgfrsh from Texas

3.81/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From a nitro can. Medium brown color with silky cream-colored head. Strong roasted malt aroma. Medium body and creamy feel. Nutty malt flavor. Nice malty ale.
Feb 18, 2024
Photo of BurtonRed
Rated by BurtonRed from England

3.48/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Too sweet and definitely not a very pale pale ale, but fine
Feb 13, 2024
Photo of Tolianych_Pivomnabuhanych
Reviewed by Tolianych_Pivomnabuhanych from Vermont

5/5  rDev +44.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is a classic amber English Pale Ale. There is not much to say otherwise.

It is on the nutty side, more amber than a typical golden English Pale ale. Cans have draft widgets which makes this magical ambrosia taste so insanely good.

For a true connoisseur.

5%+
Feb 06, 2024
 
Rated: 4.17 by Anacross from Oregon

Jan 27, 2024
Photo of Luscious_Malfoy
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
nitro draft pour into an old speckled hen glass (one of the coolest glasses i’ve ever seen). pours a cascading red with a finger or so a off-white foam head. nose has a malty sweetness to it as well as a cherry aroma. taste is more malt sweetness with a medium mouthfeel. super easy drinking. creamy mouthfeel but perhaps a little on the bland side. it’s good but i’d rather have a guinness or even a kilkenny.
Jan 18, 2024
Photo of jadpsu
Reviewed by jadpsu from Georgia

3.49/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
In Laurel:
LOOK: Pours a very clear reddish color with a very loose skin of an off white head that does have a side glass lace component.
AROMA: Caramel and butterscotch and some oozy malts. Surprised that his is only a 5.0% ABV.
TASTE: Unfortunately follows the nose. The caramel, butterscotch makes this a little too sweet for my liking.
Very drying from start to finish.
Dec 17, 2023
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.56/5  rDev +31.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
I cannot stress the importance of drinking FRESH beer.
12 oz bottle exp date May 2, 2024 into a nonic pint glass.
L: SRM 5-6 Pours clear ruby caramel with a 1" off white lightly soapy head that goes frothy with soapy edges, then to splotchy thick skin. Random light lacing.
S: Bready, brown bread, toffee, toasted caramelized malts, peach.
T: Lightly sweet soft brown bread, caramelized malts, toffee, gently floral, medium-low bitterness within the finish.
F: Fairly soft, smooth, medium to medium-light bodied with a medium-fast clean finish.
O: Amazingly easy to drink, very well balanced sweet/bitter. Not complex at all and has a superb flow. I truly enjoy the bready notes and overall mildness this beer delivers and it's one of the easiest drinking beers I've had. The bottles I purchased are very fresh. IMHO it is world-class in its style of English Pale Ale.
Dec 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.24 by KeithGreatNorth from Canada (BC)

Dec 03, 2023
 
Rated: 3.78 by BeerInspector from Delaware

Nov 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.61 by tpeters from Maryland

Nov 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.33 by OldElvis from Connecticut

Nov 10, 2023
Photo of hbeimers
Reviewed by hbeimers from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pleasantly surprised by this English pale ale poured on nitro. Extremely creamy with a great fruity aftertaste almost like a cold brew coffee. Very peachy and smooth as well. Great with food.
Nov 09, 2023
 
Rated: 3.9 by Chipwells from Georgia

Oct 27, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by njbusa from New Jersey

Oct 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.98 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Oct 01, 2023
Photo of Jefflikesbeer
Rated by Jefflikesbeer from Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Well balanced pale ale with distinctive taste that I cannot place.
Sep 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by BrisLoganite from Australia

Sep 18, 2023
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

3.54/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
pours reddish amber with fine head light hop smell taste great first few sips then you get a burning sensasion in yoour throat
Sep 02, 2023
Old Speckled Hen from Greene King / Morland Brewery
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 2326 ratings