Abbott Ale or Old speckled hen

[Mike Bowler]

I'm a new boy on the block and would like some advice on what to get please guys I like real ales but want to start with something easy

Mike

[Benson_JV]

Apparently Munton's Smuggler's Special is similar to speckled hen, alternatively there's a recipe in Graham Wheelers Book for an extract version of Old Speckled hen which isn't much more than kits but boiling up some hops and whatnot

[KevP]

I have a Smuggler Ale in a keg 'offsite' at my parents house, been conditiong for just about a month now, so due to be sampled.

Trouble is I am no help because I haven't tried it yet! Its my dads and he doesn't drink alot, no doubt it'll have a foot of fur on by the time I get a taste.

[mercilessrich]

Whatever you do, use a decent yeast. Paying about £1.50 more for a safale-04 makes all the diff in my opinion.

[Benson_JV]

With a decent kit the yeast supplied is normally quite good quality.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

I'm a new boy on the block and would like some advice on what to get please guys I like real ales but want to start with something easy

Mike

Old Speckled Hen is my favourite beer and you could try extract brewing the recipe in Graham Wheeler's book which Benson_JV posted the link to (I've got the book and I'll certainly be be trying that recipe in due course). But if you're new to brewing you might be better off starting with something like a Geordie Bitter kit and some beer enhancer and concentrate on getting the process and technique right.