Is Strong Ale Over? Old Crafty Hen, Abbot Reserve & McEwans Champion Review

Описание: Welcome back to Thursday Beer Club, where tradition meets honest opinion. In this episode, we crack open three classic British ales and put them to the test: Old Crafty Hen, Abbot Reserve, and McEwan’s Champion. These are beers with serious heritage, loyal fans, and a reputation built over decades – but how do they stack up today?

If you’re into British ales, strong amber beers, or just love discovering proper pub classics, this review is right up your street.

We start with Old Crafty Hen, a vintage-style strong ale known for its rich malt character and warming depth. Expect flavours of dried fruit, caramel, toffee, and a slightly boozy finish that makes this beer a favourite for slow sipping. We discuss whether Old Crafty Hen still delivers that comforting, old-school charm and how it compares to modern strong ales on the shelves today.

Next up is Abbot Reserve, the bolder, more powerful sibling of the famous Abbot Ale. This premium strong ale brings deeper malt complexity, darker fruit notes, and a fuller body. We talk balance, sweetness, bitterness, and whether the higher alcohol content enhances the experience or overwhelms it. If you’ve ever wondered whether Abbot Reserve is worth picking up over the regular Abbot, this part of the review is for you.

Finally, we finish with McEwan’s Champion, a beer that needs no introduction for fans of Scottish ales. Known for its smooth mouthfeel, malty backbone, and subtle roasted notes, McEwan’s Champion has long been a pub staple. We explore how it holds up today, what makes it so drinkable, and whether it still deserves its “Champion” status in a crowded beer market.

Throughout the episode, we cover taste, aroma, mouthfeel, strength, and drinkability, with honest reactions and no marketing fluff. This isn’t about hype – it’s about real beer, real opinions, and proper discussion. Whether you’re revisiting old favourites or trying these ales for the first time, this review will help you decide what belongs in your fridge or on your pub order.
If you enjoy beer reviews
, ale tastings, British beer culture, and laid-back pub chat, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you don’t miss future Thursday Beer Club sessions. Drop a comment below and let us know which of these beers is your favourite – or which classic ale we should review next.

Cheers, and we’ll see you at the bar 🍻

BeerReview #BeerYouTube #CraftBeerUK #BritishBeer #AleReview #BeerLovers #BeerTasting #BeerClub #ThursdayBeerClub #PubTalk #RealAle