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Gritty McDuffs Christmas Ale

Percentile
79
overall

bottled
available

on tap
unknown

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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
813.4/5.03.35/5.0Winter6.2%89.3English pint
Commercial Description:
Our Christmas Ale is a robust E.S.B. (Extra Special Bitter.) This brew has a lovely, dark red/amber color and a rich, full-bodied, malty taste with a slightly roasted undertone. We brew our Christmas Ale to an original gravity of 1064 (about 6.2% alcohol by volume) using only the finest English Pale and Crystal Malts with a touch of Roasted Barley as well. A blend of Clusters, Styrian Goldings, Saaz and Yakima Goldings leaf hops round out this hearty brew. Gritty's Christmas Ale has no additives, fruits or spices. It's just a good honest ale, perfect for the season. And to top it all off, it's already gift-wrapped! (Available on draft, in 22 oz bottles and 5 liter Mini-kegs from November through January)
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 SuIIy (1445), Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/514/20
Nov 21, 2009  
Draft in Portland, ME. Pours a dark amber brown color with a miniscule off white head. Nose is lightly spicey with a nutty malt note. Palate is lifeless and smooth. Flavor is light spice cinnamon with a nutty malt note and a bit of sugary syrup.


 JoeMcPhee (5000), Jackson Heights, New York, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Apr 12, 2009  
Deep amber/light brown beer with a creamy dark tan head. Aroma is heavily toasty with a lot of crackery character. Light molasses and a touch of lean malts as well. Nutty with a bit of herbal hoppiness. There is a touch of brown sugar and coffee on the back. Soft lingering hoppy finish. Pretty solid really.


 halfonit (451), Fall River, Massachusetts, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/103/513/20
Jan 18, 2009  
Well for a Christmas ale I must admit that I was expecting something a little more of a sweet/spice type of ale. This is definitely a bitter beer. Has a nice dark brown color with a malty aroma. Has a pretty good bitter malty taste with a kick in the end. Not too bad, but I’ve had better beers from this brewery.


 fluffy (229), Florida, USA
2.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/103/56/104/510/20
Jan 3, 2009  
one of the more well rounded xmas ales i had this season. dark fruit is predominate flavor though they dont last long, caramel and butter, a little citrus rind in the background, finish is more balanced than i expected some some mild hoppiness and astrigentcy and turbino sugar. unusual profile for an ESB. still pretty good though.


 GAManiac (1155), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Dec 25, 2008  
12oz bottle courtesy of Secret Santa lackenhauser poured into a pint glass. No better time than Christmas to crack this one open. Pours a clear copper with a very small off-white head that recedes to a ring quickly leaving very little lacing. Aroma is really interesting with three distinct things going on. First is the slightly toasted character that underlies everything else. Second is the opening floral hop aroma that gives way to the third element of the sweetness of caramel malts. The taste starts with the big earthy and floral hops and gives way to a generous caramel malt backbone. The taste also featured a definite nutty character and finished with a slight hop bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and extremely crisp with lots of carbonation. This is another interesting Christmas ale and a very enjoyable ESB.


 TomDecapolis (3162), Skippack, Pennsylvania, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Dec 25, 2008  
Pours a translucent deep brownish amber with medium bubbly tan head. Aroma of molasses, brown sugar, toasted malt, citrus notes, light chocolate, almonds and light citrus. Flavor of brown sugar, toffee, nuts, grapefruit, light pine and caramel.


 DalzAle (486), Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/102/513/20
Dec 24, 2008  
12 oz bottle. Poured an amber brown color with a decent frothy head. Aroma was spicy and fruity and the overall flavor was very sweet, a little malty and had a bitter finish. A solid beer, but Ive had more enjoyable beers from Gritty McDuffs.


 markwise (1179), 15 Minutes from Kuhnhenn in, Florida, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/515/20
Dec 22, 2008  
Bottle courtesy of kiefdog. Pours a caramel brown with a nose of spice, light fruit, sugar, and some hops. Flavor is malty with sugar, spice, and a woodiness. Nice.



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