Alcohol-free old Speckled hen
Greene King are one of the UK’s largest producers of alcoholic drinks since its creation back in 1887. They have gone on to create some of the nation’s most loved drinks including Abbot ale, Ruddles County, Bombay Saphire gin, and of course … Old Speckled Hen.
This classic pale ale has been a staple on many pub shelves for decades and given the fact Greene King are the UK’s leading pub chain (over 2,700 at last count) it’s not any surprise to see that they now offer an alcohol-free (well 0.5% ABV) version of Old Speckled Hen.
Similar to the alcoholic version, the alcohol-free edition of Old Speckled Hen uses a mix of malts and hops to create the classic malty bitter taste. So how did this legend in the brewery world get on with a non-alcoholic version of this classic? Well you’ll need the review below to find out.
Is Alcohol-free Old speckled hen any good?
Taste
At first, I actually quite enjoyed the subtle malty yet bitter flavour to this ale. However, after taking my first gulp there was a strange aftertaste to it that I couldn’t really nail down, it was sweet and weirdly tangy. Old Speckled Hen alcohol-free did have a good body to it and wasn’t too watery like other non-alcoholic ales; in fact, the level of carbonation was decent too. It’s just a shame there was that strange aftertaste that put me off getting another bottle.
Aroma & Appearance
Old Speckled Hen had a pretty hoppy aroma to it that was pleasant; malty with a hint of toffee on the nose. When poured into a glass it had a dark amber look to it but didnt really produce a decent head.
Bonus points
Well the good news is that the alcohol-free version of Old Speckled Hen has over 50% less calories than its full-fat brother; It is also vegan friendly but not suitable for those who are gluten-free. Accessibility wise this ale can be found in a wide range of supermarkets and online specialists.
Buy old Speckled hen alcohol-free
At the time of writing, you can find this ale in a number of supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose. You can also find this beer from other alcohol-free specialist retailers.
The Dry Drinker is a great allrounder when it comes to alcohol-free drinks with a great range of wines, beers and spirits.
COST (at time of publication) – £21 x 8
Key information
per 100 ml serving
Type – ale
Brewery – Greene King
Country – UK
Alcohol content – 0.5%
Calories – 22
Ingredients – Water, Malted Barley Extract, Malted Barley, Natural Hop Flavouring, Hops
Vegan friendly? – yes
Gluten-free? – no
Availability – medium
“Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness.”
-Seneca, AD 50 BC
