Tasting Notes: Morland Old Crafty Hen

Old Crafty Hen BottleBrewery: Greene King
Location: Bury St Edmunds
Style: Strong Ale
ABV: 6.5%
Version: Bottled
Source: Sainsbury’s

Red berries and black cherries explode out of the bottle as the cap pops off and carry on through to the flavour. A big, malty, nutty sweetness dominates, with just a faintly hoppy after-taste waving to get your attention, but generally it’s jam and marzipan and fruitcake and more jam all the way.

If only I had a few oatcakes and a nutty, crumbly cheshire cheese in the fridge, this would be a slow-sipping marriage made in… well, Sainsbury’s, as it happens. The stuff was in a £3 for 4 deal, so I thought I’d give it a go. Thing is, there aren’t many Greene King beers that I’ve been impressed with to-date – they’ve generally been a bit too factory-bland to be remarkable – but Old Speckled Hen‘s bigger sibling makes the grade.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

  • http://theormskirkbaron.blogspot.com/ Baron Orm

    I enjoyed OCH as well and agree that it’s one of the better Greene King ales, I gave it a [baron rating 4/5]:

    http://theormskirkbaron.blogsp.....y-hen.html

  • http://www.darrenturpin.me.uk Darren Turpin

    4/5 sounds about right to me. I’d buy another and leave it to develop a while, but the stuff is sold in clear glass bottles so I’m worried about the potential for light pollution. And there are much better cellar beers around.

  • http://alestolagers.blogspot.com Ales to Lagers

    This sounds fantastic…something nice to go with a fruity desert…

  • http://www.darrenturpin.me.uk Darren Turpin

    Yep, I reckon that would work, especially if there was some citrus-sourness in there to counter-act the sugars in the beer. Blackcurrant and apple crumble, maybe? Or a blueberry pie? Damn, now I’m hungry again…

  • andy

    Didn’t Greene King takeover Morlands 10 years or more ago, close the brewery and move its beer production to Greene Kings Bury St Edmonds brewery?
    Probably accounts for why its one of their better beers along with the other Morland brew Old Speckled Hen, although I am partial to a pint of Abbot.

  • http://www.darrenturpin.me.uk Darren Turpin

    Hi Andy – That sounds about right, aye :)

    Old Speck I can generally take or leave; if it’s the only cask beer on offer I’ll happily sup a pint, but I wouldn’t make a point on stocking up at the supermarket. Think that sums up most of the GK beers I’ve had to date, although this one was a pleasant exception.

  • http://carlpurkins.blogspot.com/ Carl Purkins

    I’ve just bought a bottle of this and I’m putting it aside to include in this years 12 beers of Christmas. Tesco’s are selling it for £2.99 at the moment. It looks lovely.

    Cheers!

  • http://www.darrenturpin.me.uk Darren Turpin

    £2.99 in Tesco, y’say? About time I nipped to our local branch for a stock-up, I reckon, especially with their Finest beers on 3 for £4 offer at the moment (if that one hasn’t expired by now…)

  • Steele321

    best thing since the sliced thing,, not seen it in pubs up ere yet,,deffo not a session beer;;good old TESCO,,  william..at travs wirral,,

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