Old Speckled Hen?

[Baron von BeeGee]

I like both OSH and Boddingtons, but I've never bought them at the grocery, only at the pub. There used to be an Irish pub in Cary that had both on tap and while they rated $4-5/pint I enjoyed them. They got shut down for serving minors one too many times and now it's a Brazilian steakhouse which ain't bad either!

 

[Zul'jin]

So I pull up ye olde Google to find a clone recipe for Old Speckled Hen and this thread is tops on the returns.

I drank this beer a few years ago, warm even, and it was good.

Any more word on clones?

 

[Orfy]

mmmmm.... If I could only remember who has a recipe for it?.

 

[Zul'jin]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f64/old-speckled-hen-21132/

 

[oloroso27]

There was a change to OHS around 2002-2003, I cannot remember what it was. I think it was taken over by somebody?
I used to always have a couple of bottles of it in the garage when I lived in Scotland (moved to Tasmania!) My Dad used to love it and cannot drink it anymore, it was his favourite (and trust me, he tried a lot of different beers https://www.homebrewtalk.com//images/smilies/smile.gif

It was purchased by Greene King in 1999. They went on to change the cask and keg versions from 5.2% to 4.5% (creating controversy and tarnishing reputation). Supposedly the bottled and canned versions were kept the same, and still 5.2%.

I fell in love with a co2 (perhaps cask?) version of it I drank on draft while on vacation in N.C., but now only see it on draft with the damn nitro tap, which IMO wrecks it.

 

[Orfy]

OSH should not be served on nitro.

 

[rmolledo]

just had it on tap tonight and it was amazing!

 

[KC10Chief]

Yeah. I love this stuff! Any time I am in the UK, I grab a few cases to put on the plane with me and bring home. I want to try the recipe I found on here.

 

[EoinMag]

Old Speckled when the cask hits its stride is one of the finest real ales there is. Great stuff. It's not a patch on the cask ale when it's bottled. Easily my favourite English ale when it's good.

 

[EoinMag]

This thread inspired me to do a partial mash clone.

Read about it here at my new blog.

 

[EoinMag]

This thread inspired me to do a partial mash clone.

Read about it here at my new blog.

This turned out fantastic by the way. Nice stuff.

 

[mrgchis]

Anyone tried this? I first had it on tap at an "Irish" pub in Japan(!). It's brewed by Moreland in the UK. The stuff was excellent....among my favorites.

So after coming back to the states, I was thrilled to find it locally. I bought a couple sixers and was in heaven. A couple weeks later I picked up some more, and it tasted like crap! Very bitter smell and flavor. I recommended the stuff to my buddy (orrelse), and he picked some up about the time I got the bad stuff, and he said the same thing. He told me my favorite beer sucks.

The stuff comes in clear bottles, which I figured was the culprit (very nice bottles, BTW). Orrelse found some in a pint can, and said it tasted the same. I can't figure out what the deal is, unless I just happened to get lucky and got some nice fresh stuff, and everything else since has been too old.

Anyone else tried it, and if so, what did you think? I'm hoping it's a freshness issue, and not my taste buds going on the fritz!

Hi Speckled Hen taster, while i prefer the canned variety, much more like a hand pulled style, the bottle is good too, at least when i have tried it. it is probable you had some which was not kept well. good to know you have not given up on this beer,
mrgchis

 

[BenG021228]

It's available here at several stores in mid-Michigan. It's been awesome in the bottle every time I've had it. I liked it so much I had to search for clone recipes and brewed it up this weekend.