Greene King Abbot Ale Reserve Vs Morland Old Crafty Hen | English Strong Ale Battle

[@Hippo_Croca_Pig]

Personally I prefer the evening reviews, the lighting gives off a very pleasant, homely sort of aesthetic.

[@pgl0897]

Also reassures me that he’s not just smashing cans at 9am!

[@Heaven-dy9lj]

Yeah me too. I can relate, sweating away after doing the house up, reaching for a cool beer to relax.

[@jakebanevicius]

Watching you enjoy the beer and hearing your passion for beer is what makes this channel so great, if that means reviewing in the evening then that’s what we’d all enjoy! Keep up the great work!

[@jamesedgewood4643]

Just had two bottles of the Abbot Reserve....It's gorgeous. Most English bottled beers aren't worth bothering with anymore since hardly any of them are bottle conditioned anymore, but the stronger beers like this take bottling well and have lots of body and a hint of secondary fermentation. I love the way the heavy malt turns really fruity at high ABV. Currently on offer at Waitrose, 4 for 7 quid.

[@andyarmstrong1175]

Nice one...I think both these beers are great and with the Tesco's offer incredible VFM at 4 for £6.50. I can't understand why people buy the so called craft beers in the phycadelic coloured cans at £3.50 each and walk past these. Personal taste I guess but they dont know what they're missing! 😁👍🇬🇧

[@OscarOSullivan]

Because Greene King is shite

[@madsleonardholvik3040]

Four for 6,50 is a great deal! Totally agree that these classic ales are preferable to all the modern stuff.

[@Ngamer834]

I like both of these with a slight preference for old crafty hen. Might have to crack one open soon but find with the weather warm weissbier and cider hits the spot a bit better.

[@donholden8355]

Two of my go to beers along with Adnam’s Broadside, Old Jock, and Stewart’s Champion.

[@andrewcarr5923]

All excellent heavy hitters.

[@treforwalker7152]

My exact choices in Asda

[@DaveBartlett]

Three of those four were, for quite a while, my selection from TESCOs four bottle deal (sadly now - as of Aug 2024 - 4 for £7) - I decided to go for the stronger brews, (with the misguided idea, that I'd know sooner when I'd had enough for the evening with strong ales - mainly because I'd know sooner when I was GETTING pissed, though I've come to realise that by that time it's ''too late to moderate''.) Together with Old Crafty Hen, Abbot Reserve & Adnam's Broadside, I'd always choose" Wychwood King Goblin". I used to be very fond of 'Shepherd Neame 1698' but TESCO near me removed that from their range. (Not before time, because although the label still reads: 'bottle conditioned' it clearly wasn't anymore, since I could always pour a full crystal clear pint, without taking any care, with no sediment in evidence - Whether their bottle conditioning promise was forgotten, [even though still remaining on the label] or they'd found some miraculous method of somehow transporting the sediment from the bottle at the point of opening, I can't be certain, but it did seem to be missing something, both in taste and in body, from what it was when I used to drink it regularly.) I've since thrown my caution of "Drink strong ales and I'll probably drink less" to the wind, and though I regularly keep a couple of bottles of each of my 'go-to' four in the house, during the summer months I tend to go for 'refreshment' and I've discovered the range from Badger Brewery - "Golden Champion" being my favourite for a summer's day. They describe it as having 'hints of elderflower' and to me it has a suggestion of the flavour of Irn Bru of all things, (I strongly suspect that elderflower cordial and quinine are the main flavourings in Irn Bru - never mind all that "Made in Scotland from Girders" old shit!) - "Cranborne Poacher" is my second favourite. (I can certainly taste the promised 'Damson' flavour but can detect only a mere hint of the liquorice that's also mentioned.) "Blandford Fly" is tasty and refreshing too, the promised 'toffee' in the malt is there, but also are the 'ginger notes' set against it. I also regularly buy "Golden Glory" Peach Ale, though the taste of peach in there is a little bit too obvious for me, but it's still a refreshing, tasty beer (and the wife likes it, so I have to keep a few in!) Unfortunately most of these aren't available on the TESCO offer (Only Golden Champion is, if I recall correctly) but they're all available from Sainsbury, who do a similar 4 for £7 deal, So I just have to make more and varied shopping trips to keep my stocks up, (or I suppose I could drink them less regularly, but I won't consider that as an option!) 😉

[@stephenparker9434]

Two good strong solid drinks that go well and quench the thirst with a Sunday Roast ! I'm more familiar with drinking Abbott Ale regular(created in 1951) in the pub at AVB 5%. A staple at Wetherspoons. Indeed, I once saw Tim Martin in one of his Wetherspoon pub visits talking to customers drinking a pint of Abbot Ale. Apparently it is his favourite drink. Rich & Fruity, not for nothing is it voted one of the best character ales in the world! If it's good enough for a multi millionaire founder of Wetherspoons it's good enough for me!

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

I like these reviews of traditional English ales. I'd like to see more.

[@tomtom7679]

Normally watch your reviews in the morning with breakfast goes to the back of my mind when in work then so I know what I feel like drinking once the days graft is done. Keep up the good work Simon

[@captaincat1743]

I'd never have bought this if I saw it in the shop but when you said 6.5 % you got my attention. I always thought beers with farmyard names were sh}te but from how you describe it I would love to give it a try. Four pints of that then straight down the curry house for a Vindaloo, or a Jalfrezi extra hot. By the way when you do beer reviews you don't say much about the temperature you are drinking them at, but I would be interested to know that info and I guess other people might want to know aswell. For me the temperature makes a massive difference to the drinking experience.

[@pgl0897]

Seconded.

[@americasfavoritehoarder]

Ian Matthew's loves the Hen series and I agree. I'll have to find the Abbot ale.

[@runswithwindz9875]

Such a good review ! iIm drinking both now. I would not buy the Old Crafty Hen again - Does not feel like a well balanced beer. I would give it 6 at best. Thanks again Simon.

[@gswella3294]

Abbots Reserve is my fave beer of all time, its fantastically good tasting and the aroma is great. I don't mind old crafty either but I would pick Reserve all the way.

[@davidbridge5652]

Would have been good to have chucked in a 1698 by Shepherds neame

[@jockstrappery]

and Fullers Golden Pride. and .... !

[@Shadz01]

Definitely prefer the evening reviews. Crafty Hen differs because it has the oak aged 5X blended into it. Can you review Old Golden Hen? One of my favourite golden ales due to the nice Galaxy hops. You can get bottles in most supermarkets. Asda have it.

[@Sum41rthe1]

Golden is not normal my choice, prefer amber and darks on the whole. Old golden though is spectacular. Beautiful drink

[@rogerh3642]

Just tried the Old Crafty Hen. Strong and powerful it has character and bite. Lovely stuff.

[@Blasteroid47]

Would love to see you review different German Weissbiers and compare them. Maybe Benediktiner vs Franziskaner vs Weihenstephaner. Anyways, love the reviews keep it up!

[@kylereed9309]

I always seem to get the crafty old hen more than the abbot but still both are good. I started getting crafty when the normal speckled dropped its abv it just tasted different

[@gordyLive]

Love this time of year for ale drinking especially greene King nice session ale not too high alcohol 🍁👌

[@FighterPilot1945]

British beer brewed in the uk!..🇬🇧💯

[@anthonyfoley5576]

These 2 beers are my preferred beers

[@jimmycburfield5997]

I like both but actually had Abbot’s ale reserve with my Christmas dinner in 2021! I felt it was right for my main course.

[@WWCLife]

My Dad gave me a bottle of Old Crafty Hen… it blew my mind! Cracking drop. I’ve now got back into stronger, darker ales. Loads of flavours. I also tried Mcewans Champion at the weekend too… incredible!

[@Djwatzy]

Have you tried Badgers Cranborne Poacher? I found that when I went to darker stuff, absolutely love it.

[@barneygreen9974]

Hi Simon, do those dark beers ever get lightstrike skunkiness? Bizarrely on the very same day you did the Mythos review my wife bought me some green bottles of Mythos and totally skunked!!

[@FOETRAIN]

Abbot Ale changed significantly in about the mid 1980's. I am old enough to remember the older style, which was vastly better than the current incarnation :( The Reserve, in my opinion, is not so hot for a 6.5% brew.

[@FighterPilot1945]

Same here I started drinking Abbott 50 years ago on handpump with my dad lovely ale sadly not anymore, ☹️ crafty bit more flavour oak aged,at least it's beer and not a hyped poor excuse of a artificially flavoured fruity kiddy squash crap at £3.50 can🤣really who drinks this rubbish...cucumber beer give me a break!🤣

[@OscarOSullivan]

A once recommended beer of Michael Jackson

[@lukerobertson1718]

What editing do you do? Nor your audio or video is cleaned up in post production😂

[@runswithwindz9875]

I'm trying this again tonight - It's actually lovely ! 😁

[@paulb7964]

Have you tried wrexham lager?

[@adamgreenhill110]

These were my first 2 favourite beers! After I turned 18, I'd drink these pretty often. Made the 'regular' ales taste weak compared to them haha. And I agree, the Old _ Hen beers are metallic now. It's a shame. I thought Abbot Reserve was more nutty and biscuit, Old Crafty Hen was more dried fruit and toffee. Both very similar though.

[@gingerNinja688]

To hear your reviewing beer at 9 in the morning is bonkers! Not normal drinking times, Your not even woken up properly, and clearly damaging your health. I genuinely love the beer reviews. but Simon I want you to be at your best at the same time. Stick to the evening reviews, and keep doing what your doing. Much love! 🙏🏻❤️

[@andrewcarr5923]

At last a decent beer battle worthy of your channel, there both decent supermarket strong ales that I enjoy but the Old Crafty Hen just pips it for me, did you ever review Hens Tooth, an exceptional ale although I'm not sure if they still make it since the takeover.

[@Djwatzy]

Have you reviewed badgers cranborne poacher? Id love to see you review that or plum porters. Yum 😋

[@crazy_pete5129]

Hi si, just found a beer that I can't see you've reviewed (didn't know it was possible) volfas engleman raspberry porter, if you fancy a can I will pop one in the post for a full in-depth review, think this is made in Lithuania. Let us know. 👍

[@UZI-Max]

I guess the difference in taste is from the oak they used ... that'll give an extra astringent bitterness for sure .

[@benmatthews6252]

must say i enjoy watching the evening reviews better, something about the atmosphere in your bar. am i right in thinking that the crafty hen is a mixed beer, with a base of speckled hen then the 5X oak vat beer mixed with it? both great beers, but do prefer the hen because of the body and the oak and nutty malt character that you don't get with the abbot reserve.

[@garyballared2077]

mix the 2 - absolutely stunning!

[@peterm7548]

It's like British Leyland with both Triumph and Rover brands in one company! Not sure which I would prefer. Nice atmosphere in the evening!

[@madsleonardholvik3040]

The old crafty hen is a great beer. To me superior to Abbot. Cheers!

[@shockcityrocker]

They look almost identical.

[@guttersnipe3246]

Used to drink abott and St edmunds

[@RavenShinyThings]

Yes proper battle same water same access to 5 x from those oak barrels and brewing kit. Its a duel

[@jdgonzo1982]

I'm not saying it would be a great idea but some of us might like it...have you ever thought about doing a weekly deals video?? You could do a video highlighting the good offers on ale/lager that you see out and about??? You could cover all of the UK supermarkets and it'd be a reference point for everyone on a tight budget to check your weekly deals videos...??

[@Djwatzy]

Both good beers and i agree with you.

[@devianskills1107]

Not sure sticking a thumbnail on an unedited video is editing, but I do like the evening review. Bar looks much more inviting lit up. Those warm amber colours as the nights draw darker. Making me want a beer right now 😅

[@klowe3269]

Abbot Ale - only beer left on sale on the last day at GGBF, everything else sold out i say no more

[@andreasoebel9316]

I totally agree that the Abbott Reserve is the more balanced beer of both. The toffee notes very well connects the malty and nutty notes with the hoppy finish. Rating: 4.25/5.00. The old Crafty Hen on the other side has also some caramel notes buts lacks the licorice notes and is stronger hopped with a dry impression due to the oak aging. Not as balanced as the Abbott. Rating: 3.25/5.00.

[@jimbo805]

Can you do speckled hen vs ruddles best next?

[@jquill6]

Does that brewery make the Spitfire beer ?

[@andrewcarr5923]

Shepherd Neame.

[@geraintjones403]

Wait,what? You edit?

[@tobyjackman3212]

Don't really understand why you can't just edit the previous evening's videos in the morning?!?

[@SBIJFoot]

You forgot to do the smelling notes on the Crafty hen!

[@williammatthews2287]

Old Crafty Hen is so much better than Old Speckled Hen... so if it is a 7, Old Speckled Hen must be a 6 or under.

[@kinggeoffrey3801]

They have messed around with AVB again with Old Speckled Hen. I remember it being 5.2 back in the day. 4.8 now. Not the same now unfortunately.

[@HermieMunster]

Had a bottle of Old Crafty Hen the other week and found it underwhelming, not bad but I won’t be rushing out to buy another bottle.

[@rosslogan4154]

Breweries that penny pinch and pour their beer into clear glass bottles rather than brown or even green bottles don't deserve our custom. It also shows that they don't value their own beer.😬

[@OscarOSullivan]

I agree

[@rollingjoe]

Tennents do a Scottish ale online its real good 👍

[@DidYaServe]

Abbot must simply have a slightly different but superior recipe.

[@craigb2644]

He has two ponytails 😂

[@FighterPilot1945]

Great a proper real ale beer review, hallelujah!,none of this cucumber fruity kid drinks crap.. Abbott as a poster said not same anymore for years what can you do?,but I suppose this is what we have now it's not a bad flavour good abv 6.5% abv,,crafty is nice maybe but more flavour oak aged,matter of preferred taste me thinks,thanks for the good review Simon 👍...Mcewans champion dark ale 7.3% lovely ale hasn't changed quality or taste so far😜 now that an ale to review Simon👌❤️

[@PeterPan-i3x]

When we gonna see ( Guinness VS Forged Irish stout ) 👍

[@PeterPan-i3x]

I believe Forged is nitro in a tin aswell

[@OscarOSullivan]

Guinness vs O’ Hara’s

[@PeterPan-i3x]

@@OscarOSullivan free for all including brewdog stout etc

[@OscarOSullivan]

@@PeterPan-i3x Agreed reckon Si would love Lineman Astral Grains

[@PeterPan-i3x]

@@OscarOSullivan definitely

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

Like both of them

[@MarmiteTheDog]

Film in the evening, edit the next day. T'aint rocket science.

[@pgl0897]

Mate… don’t do beer reviews at 9am. Much prefer content that’s a week late but demonstrates responsible drinking.

[@ScottishT]

I'm not a fan of these beers whatsoever, give me a Belgian Blonde or German Weisbeer anytime over this stuff.

[@craigsmedley990]

Both has been beers once a good brew now a shadow of itself due to the usual mass production rubbish its rude to call it real ale ,rat urine yes

[@OscarOSullivan]

Believe Abbott used to be a recommended beer of Michael Jackson

[@jonbibby9755]

@@OscarOSullivan why do I feel like this is a joke which went over my head?

[@OscarOSullivan]

@@jonbibby9755 No Michael Jackson the beer writer used to recommend it forty years ago

[@nigelwatson2750]

These pints of brown sugary water don't cut it anymore compare to German beers

[@OscarOSullivan]

Germans have plenty of shitters Warsteiner for example

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@OscarOSullivanwarsteiner is nice German lager not shit go away

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

Shut up

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

@@OscarOSullivany don’t know anything about beer