It doesn’t seem that long ago that I reviewed Morland’s Old Speckled Hen, so based on that positive experience and faced with a mediocre selection of fare at the pub – not the Black Prince, I may add – on a Friday lunchtime, I thought I’d give the Golden Hen a whirl…and I’m glad that I did…
(Graham, who lives a few doors down from me, said that I ought to try it – so I knew I probably should. Graham has good taste in beer – which really means he likes my home-brewed beers…or at least says he does… :o)
This review is for the draught version of Golden Hen – which arrived a light polished brass colour with a head that pretty much tickled off as soon as I looked at it. The aroma was pretty unremarkable minerals and malt and not a great deal in the way of hop character.
The taste, however, was something else: a solid mouth feel, with a really lovely malty sweetness and tons of really good hopping – in fact a massive amount of tropical flavour, and all of this in a cask beer. It seems (and really does taste) like they’ve single-hopped with Galaxy only – which is both brave and inspired.
I’m genuinely surprised. This may be my new favourite summer ale.
I guarantee that I will be putting together a recipe to make a clone of this – probably using Magnum for a clean bitterness and then a whole packet of Galaxy for flavour and aroma. Half-used packets of hops are a crime which should be STAMPED OUT.
http://www.oldspeckledhen.co.uk/products.php?beer=old-golden-hen
(WARNING: Twatty website. Morland (GK), your beers deserve better than this goofy shit. Stop it.)
Jon – have you tried ‘Old Hoppy Hen’ ?? Recently enjoyed in that there Jericho, Oxford (a location of which you must visit – the Old Bookbinders, in particular…) – I think you may enjoy…
I will most definitely keep an eye out for that one, Mr D. I didn’t know that it even existed!