Morland Old Speckled Hen

It had been quite a while since I'd had any Old Speckled Hen, but I was in The Rutland Arms in Chesterfield the other week, and I spotted they had some on. I remembered a good few years ago when I used to drink it a lot ~ especially when we used to go out for Sunday lunch at The Highwayman pub not far from where we live. It was the first "proper" bitter I had really come across and was always a real treat compared with the Tetleys and the John Smiths that seemed to be available in our usual pubs. I've had a soft spot for it ever since and was really pleased to see it again and have the chance to revisit my youth. Old Speckled Hen is ...  Read the complete review

Up until I met my boyfriend I used to drink Stella and blackcurrant as my main drink...this was not what he counted as a drink and slowly but surely he managed to get me onto the 'proper' drinks. The bitters and the ales, John Smiths being the first bitter, and Old Speckled hen the first ale. The first thing to say is that it is a darn site better than Stella and black if anyone is wondering. I think in that I was murdering my alcohol before as even I can now admit that putting blackcurrent in Stella is Alcohol Abuse - capitals intended. Speckled Hen is one of those ales which I would personally say is a middle range ale. It's not brilliant, but ...  Read the complete review

Old Speckled Hen. It's a beer. Honest! And a damn good bear at that! Brewed by Morlands brewery, and named not after a chicken with measles, but an old vintage sports car, this is the king of real ales ... undoubtedly. Not only is it a whacking 5.2% in a 500ml bottle, but the beer tastes wonderfully smooth. The beer has a wonderful aroma, a sort of sweetness like fruit and nuts. Drink the beer and a similarly smooth experience ensues! You get the slight sweetness of caramel and toffee, plus a fruity lightness together with the malts and hops. Not a trace of bitterness in sight, so this beer should appeal to many. The beer has a lovely fizz to it ...  Read the complete review

This is without a doubt my favourite bitter and at 5.2% abv it's a feisty brew. The beer is an amber red colour a fruity smell and a dry finish. Don't bother buying it in a pub. The disasterous change to those nasty creamy finishes on beer really kill the delicate taste of OSH, it's by far the best when bought in a bottle. It's apparently named after an MG car (MG was another industry in Abingdon) the nickname Speckled Hen was originally applied to a demonstration model MG with a gold-flecked black body made from cellulosed fabric. When the factory celebrated its half-century, the brewery made a celebration ale -- Old Speckled Hen. Because ...  Read the complete review

This is my favourite drink at the moment.It is very strong at 5.2% so you dont need to drink many before you feel like youve had a drink.It doesnt seem to taste the same when you drink this when its from the can so best stick to bottles in my opinion.When poured from the bottle it has a nice browny red colour to it and a little fizz but the head soon goes down.Maybe an acquired taste to some cavemen.Dont know what they do to spoil this when served on draft in pubs and too expensive also. Is about £1.60 ish a bottle in most supermarkets but some good deals around especially at easter and christmas so best to stock up on it then. Not an old,cardigan wearing ...  Read the complete review