I really like this classic English Ale. Whenever I buy beer, often I'll reserve a few bottles to share with some friends. Three friends got some Hen and two of them said the same thing, that it reminded them of another beer they've had that was not imported. They couldn't remember any more than that. I've enjoyed a good bit of beer, and I remember specifics quite well, but Old Speckled Hen stands alone for me. My question, do you know of a beer brewed in the states that is similar to the Hen?
Sipchue, I shared similar sentiments about this beer (it reminded me of a simple, domestic brew that I couldn't place). Funny enough, after drinking it a few times, I came to the conclusion that it reminds me most of drinking a good old cream soda! If you dig the malty flavors and texture of Speckled Hen, try some Cream Ales. Sweet Action, Narragansett Cream Ale, and Genesee Cream Ale are all brewed right here in the Northeast! Also, FYI, light-medium body malty lagers (like HB Dunkel) tend to meet my palate the same way Speckled Hen does. Hope this helps!
It's another beer which has suffered over the years. It was once a good beer brewed by a small local brewery, it was 5.2% and when well kept was a decent beer on cask. Then Greene King bought out the brewery and needing a premium strength beer for its portfolio began brewing it in quantity at 4.5% in the main brewery and using the Greene King house yeast.The result is a decent beer but bearing little relationship to its forebear. So many local beers have gone this way; Greene King beers are well brewed but only a pale shadow of whet they were in independent hands.
