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Old Speckled Hen
Greene King / Morland Brewery
- From:
- Greene King / Morland Brewery
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- English Pale Ale
Ranked #139 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 79
Ranked #27,831 - Avg:
- 3.47 | pDev: 16.43%
- Reviews:
- 1,004
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Monday at 05:11 AM
- Added:
- Oct 23, 2000
- Wants:
- 61
- Gots:
- 371
SCORE
79
Okay
79
Okay
Notes:
Old Speckled Hen is popular with ale drinkers up and down the country and renowned for its unique character and consistent quality.
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.
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bark:
Reviewed by bark from Sweden
3.45/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
3.45/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
The beer pours very smoothly; the colour is brass. The finger thick head is warm off-white.
The smell is sweet with yeasty notes of caramel, tobacco (quite a lot of it), some metallic bitterness, rye bread and a fresh hint of fresh vegetables. It is a rather characteristic; I don't know any other beer with this tobacco-smell.
The taste got some lightly roasted malts (whole grain bread, crispbread), butter, some tobacco, turnips and other root crops and a light touch of smoke. The aftertaste is dry and medium bitter with caramel malt, hints of toffee, flour, yeast and a touch of alcohol.
The carbonation is medium to mild, the bubbles are small. The liquid is mid-smooth.
I like this ale... Yet the special flavours make me not want to drink it too often. A few pints a year is enough.
Jan 31, 2009The smell is sweet with yeasty notes of caramel, tobacco (quite a lot of it), some metallic bitterness, rye bread and a fresh hint of fresh vegetables. It is a rather characteristic; I don't know any other beer with this tobacco-smell.
The taste got some lightly roasted malts (whole grain bread, crispbread), butter, some tobacco, turnips and other root crops and a light touch of smoke. The aftertaste is dry and medium bitter with caramel malt, hints of toffee, flour, yeast and a touch of alcohol.
The carbonation is medium to mild, the bubbles are small. The liquid is mid-smooth.
I like this ale... Yet the special flavours make me not want to drink it too often. A few pints a year is enough.
More User Ratings:
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
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
Reviewed by OlaB from Norway
3.44/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.44/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear copper color with a medium top of white head that dissolves quickly.
Aroma is of malt, bread, some spices, slight caramel and hops.
The taste is sweet and malty with bready caramel notes allong with some spicy notes. The finish is slightly bitter with a decent lenght in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth with a medium carbonation and a medium body.
An absolutely decent and drinkable pale ale, but nothing more.
Aug 25, 2023Aroma is of malt, bread, some spices, slight caramel and hops.
The taste is sweet and malty with bready caramel notes allong with some spicy notes. The finish is slightly bitter with a decent lenght in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth with a medium carbonation and a medium body.
An absolutely decent and drinkable pale ale, but nothing more.
Reviewed by branko7 from Illinois
4.38/5 rDev +26.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +26.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a nitro can. Creamy, settles down to a pretty reddish brown, golden color. Didn't notice much smell. Tastes of caramel, bread, a little bit spice, a bit bitter, and nicely balanced. I love this beer.
Aug 10, 2023
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts
4.49/5 rDev +29.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +29.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Wow, I’m glad I (unintentionally) waited to think this until I was in England. At The Swan in London, this was freshly tapped from cask and hand pulled. Super creamy, spiced country aroma and taste from the malt, super silky feel and body. Not super hoppy but so damn balanced. What a beer!
Aug 09, 2023
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.53/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle into a dimpled mug. Tiny code no help in determining age.
Nice looking pint, reddish amber body, small white head. Malty aroma. Smooth somewhat sweet mallty taste with a light bitterness in the finish.
Jul 17, 2023Nice looking pint, reddish amber body, small white head. Malty aroma. Smooth somewhat sweet mallty taste with a light bitterness in the finish.
Reviewed by DMFF from New York
3.2/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
3.2/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Bought a "Mystery 6 Pack" at my beverage center and a nitro can of this was one of the selections. Decided to give it the ol' college try!
L: Pours a clear copper with a 2 finger off-white head and the nitro cascade effect. Looks neat!
S: A touch of slightly sweet malt and a nose full of bitter hops. There's a slight yeast funk to it as well that ties it together pretty well.
T: Extremely hop forward. Mostly bitter overall, but then fades into an earthy, wooded malt. Not really all that well balanced, but tastes decent.
F: Smooth, creamy, full-bodied.
O: Nott bad, but I would definitely just prefer to have an ESB. This beer lacks the balance needed to make it truly a great beer.
Apr 09, 2023L: Pours a clear copper with a 2 finger off-white head and the nitro cascade effect. Looks neat!
S: A touch of slightly sweet malt and a nose full of bitter hops. There's a slight yeast funk to it as well that ties it together pretty well.
T: Extremely hop forward. Mostly bitter overall, but then fades into an earthy, wooded malt. Not really all that well balanced, but tastes decent.
F: Smooth, creamy, full-bodied.
O: Nott bad, but I would definitely just prefer to have an ESB. This beer lacks the balance needed to make it truly a great beer.
Reviewed by mcniwinski from Pennsylvania
3.79/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.79/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Draft pint. Tasted fresh. Nice amber straw color with head that settled to a centimeter for remainder of pint. Aroma ok. Taste started with cream evolved into a nice woodsy malt. Nice feel. A good bitter in my opinion.
Mar 04, 2023
Old Speckled Hen from Greene King / Morland Brewery
Beer rating:
79 out of
100 with
2309 ratings
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