A few months ago I reviewed Morland's fine English Ale, "Old Speckled Hen," and gave it stellar reviews. On the recommendation of a college classmate Eric, I was on the lookout for some of Morland's other "hens." I came across this bottle at a little DC boutique and had to get it.
"Old Crafty Hen" is a 6.5% ABV Old English Superior Fine Ale. I guess that means they can charge more for it, but in reality this beer wasn't very expensive. It was $5 I believe, which is a good price for a craft brew.
The pour was very easy...the beer is thin and a little watery. It has a light nose with no substantial smell to it.
This beer is delicious. On first taste, it's nice and creamy, overall mouthfeel is smooth and balanced. A great deal of malt went into this beer. It's very peaty and reminds me a lot of Glenlivet single-malt whisky. The beer is light, overall, and has a slight raisin taste to it. The aftertaste is a smooth, fresh taste with notes of raisin. It warms the throat as you swallow the beer.
It's not really that much different from "Old Speckled Hen," I'm afraid. And this isn't really a bad thing - "Old Speckled Hen" was great - but I was hoping for something a little different. Perhaps adding some hop balance to the beer might turn it into something unique. Sure, it retains the amazing smoothness and creaminess that the original has, and it is delicious, but it's not a heck of a lot different than the "Old Speckled Hen" other than having a higher ABV. But that shouldn't dissuade you from trying it. It's cheap enough and "normal" enough to be approachable for anyone. So give "Old Crafty Hen" a shot.
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