7

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Morland Old Midnight Hen

7.1

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

The ‘golden ale’ counterpart to Morland’s Old Speckled Hen, one of those famous old-timey English pale ales, launched in 1979 for a car factory and now – like this one – produced by Greene King’s. Tapped at Ma Cameron’s, the oldest pub in Aberdeen and a lovely place in my experience. Snow white, creamy, dense, tiny-bubble, medium sized head on a practically clear, deep golden robe with pale orangey tinge. Aroma of pronounced melting butter (diacetyl), barley porridge, pear peel, apple blossom, raw sweet potato, moist white pepper, plaster, wood glue and a whiff of damp cellar in the background. Restrainedly fruity onset, some green banana, unripe peach and vague persimmon, soft effervescence with very slick and creamy, ‘buttery’ body, the diacetyl effect continuing in the mouth but not unpleasantly so – at least if you can appreciate its presence in these British cask ales. Cereally finish gently yet efficiently bittered by floral and grassy hops, not harshly so, but enough to be quenching. Stereotypical and straightforward golden ale doing what it is intended for – an easy drinker of humble but pleasant flavours.

6.6

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

Morland, although no relation to the name of the beer is a pretty village in Cumbria. I had the Morland Old Session Hen prior to this beer and the difference in body is the first thing of note for me, this is much fuller bringing out the caramels more in this instance. Still quite hoppy, a little less bitterness than the aforementioned but there's still enough of this evident here. Clear deeper amber colour, not much of a head.

6.3

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6

'Hen' is a 400 year old Scottish term for a lady, more widely known in the term 'hen party'. Probably not one you want too much at a party, it's a little dull for that but a quieter session then it's not bad, with a more dominant hop than malt billing, both are evident. There's a mid-bitterness attached to this traditional styled beer.

5.8

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5.5 | Flavor - 5.5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Cask at Old Wheatsheaf. Frimley Green. Clear golden-brown. Foamy off-white head. Aroma is malty with a bitter edge. Light-medium bitter. Earthy. Chewy. Twiggy. Tart berry edge. Underlying malts. Light-medium bodied. Slick. Soft-fizzy carbonation. Long dry slightly astringent finish. Chewy but ultimately unexciting.

7.9

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottle in box in box 2025-08-16 Göteborg
AR: bready, honey, roasted malt,
AP: amber clear, frothy off-white foam
F: bready, honey, roasted malt,

8.1

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Flaska från SB. Bärnstensfärgad klar vätska med ett lågt krämigt skumlock. Stor kropp med flera lager av maltsmaker. Mjöligt bröd, karamell, söt frukt, syltade apelsinskal, citrusblom, fat. Värmande alkohol, mjuk och len. Lite som en krämig lättare barley wine. Mycket gott

5.3

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5