Old Speckled Hen beer

Old Speckled Hen is a renowned British premium ale with a unique heritage rooted in the automotive industry. It was first brewed in 1979 by the Morland Brewery in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the MG car factory. The beer’s name is a tribute to a paint-spattered MG Featherlight Saloon, an experimental car used as a factory run-around, which workers affectionately nicknamed the 'Owld Speckl'd Un'. The distinctive octagonal label used on the bottles is also a nod to the iconic MG car badge.

In 1999, the Morland Brewery was acquired by Greene King, one of the UK's largest brewing and pub retailing companies. Following the acquisition and the subsequent closure of the original Abingdon site in 2000, production was moved to Greene King’s historic Westgate Brewery in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Today, Old Speckled Hen remains a flagship brand in the Greene King portfolio and is celebrated globally as one of the UK’s leading premium ales.

Since 2019, the ultimate ownership of the brand has transitioned to CK Asset Holdings, a multinational conglomerate based in Hong Kong. Despite this change in high-level ownership, the brewing process continues to honor traditional British methods at its Suffolk home, maintaining the malty, toffee-like character and fruity aroma that define the brand.