Old Speckled Hen ale

Old Speckled Hen is a premier English ale that holds a significant place in British brewing history. It was first brewed in 1979 by the Morland Brewery in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the MG car factory. The name itself is a tribute to an old MG factory car, a paint-spattered Featherlight Saloon known affectionately as the 'Owld Speckl’d Un'.

In 2000, the Morland Brewery was acquired by Greene King, one of the United Kingdom's largest pub retailers and brewers. Following the acquisition, the production of Old Speckled Hen was moved to the historic Westgate Brewery in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. The brand has since grown into a global family of ales, including varieties like Old Golden Hen and Old Crafty Hen, maintaining its status as one of the UK's best-selling premium bottled ales.

In 2019, the parent company Greene King was acquired by CK Asset Holdings, a multinational conglomerate based in Hong Kong. Despite this change in ultimate ownership, the beer continues to be brewed in England, staying true to its traditional recipe that features a distinct blend of Crystal and pale malts paired with Challenger, First Gold, and Goldings hops.