Gritty McDuffs Best Bitter

Brewed by Gritty McDuffs
Style: Bitter
Portland, Maine USA

I used to not like this beer much but I guess my tastes have changed. I recently had this from the cask at Gritty’s pub in Portland during the Old Port fest. Even from a plastic cup it was still darn good. I dig the way the flavor sticks in your mouth like a taffy sticks to your teeth.

Bottle (12oz). via trade with Ruggedman. Poured bright refractive amber-tinged gold with a large, lasting pilowy white head - nice looking, but a bitter? Dry, yeasty malt aroma, dry floral hops, faint hint of apricot - a little oily, vaguely nutty. Taste is quite grainy, dry but there’s more floral/herbal hops and it seems a little honey-sweet - this is a pleasant drink, but unlike any best bitter I’ve ever had, although that really does taste like kentish hops though. Mouthfeel is dry, decently carbonated, quick-finishing - okay.

This bitter pours a medium amber color with a white, fizzy head. Quiet body, clear, with very few bubbles. Aroma is of hops with flower notes, champagne, fruit, and a slight musty smell. Initial taste is smooth, but not sweet or bitter. Acidic. Oily on the mouth with soft carbonation.

Any first impressions?
-A sheet of foam hangs on the shining orange glare.
-Toasted malts defeat the orangey, flowery hops in the aroma.
-Caramel sweetness provides an adequate mouthfeel.
-The low carbonation is appropriate for the style.

What if you dig deeper?
-The quick-to-finish hop bitterness is a little disappointing.
-In the bottle, diacetyl levels are too high for many’s enjoyment, but on cask, no such vile buttery component is found.
-Some old citrus fruitiness lies within.
-This is a quiet and drinkable bitter for thoughtless sessions.

From the bottle and on cask at the Portland pub.

[on tap at brewery] Almost clear, reddish copper; wispy and lacey. Pine-citrus bitter aroma without malt contributions. Light caramel flavour with significant bitterness and alcoholic driness. Light body and a touch astringent.

Not much head to speak of, dark yellow body. Not bad tasting, a bit bitter (as the name might suggest) but pretty good, not too strong. Goes down easy. Not my favorite beer, but one of my favorite brewers makes another good beer.

My staple when I visit the new Gritty McDuffs in Auburn Maine. It is wonderful on cask. Only problem is the morning afterwards..Akin to eating baked beans. Need I say more. Regardless. I love it.

Copper color, classic, with a perfect head of white foam. The head is thin but resilient. Aroma is very earthy, spicy, sweet, and bready with a whiff of sulphur and diacetyl. It could show more fresh hop aroma. Flavor is somewhere between a special and an ordinary bitter. Malt is solid but not very distinct with some butter sweetness and breadiness then a balancing acidity and spicy, earthy hops blend nicely making for a great session pint. I would love one of these on cask.