Morland Old Speckled Hen: The yeast for this ale dates back to 1896, though the beer itself dates from 1979 when it was launched on the anniversary of the founding of the MG car factory. The beer’s strength (1050 OG) reveals that it was the 50th anniversary; while the name refers to the old, mud spattered factory runabout which the locals dubbed “old speckled ‘un”. The beer has proved to be so popular that bottled sales are overtaking those of Newcastle Brown in the UK. Big marketing has helped its popularity, but the big marketing only came after it had established a reputation as a quality beer.
Issoroku_Yamamoto found an “exemplary hop character set off against a strong caramel-ish malt core.” But many people, like muzzlehatch, discovered that the clear glass meant it was “light-struck, skunky of course.”