RateBeer
   Home Sign Up or Login Advanced Search
   People Ratings Events Places Forums Shop Magazine
      Top By Category  RateBeer Best  Latest Ratings  Top 50    

Gritty McDuffs Christmas Ale

Gritty McDuffs Christmas Ale - Premium Bitter/ESB

* picture credits
copyright may apply

 Percentile 
75
overall
Brewed by Gritty McDuffs
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB

Portland, Maine USA

bottled
available

on tap
unknown

Regional Distribution
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |

 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
803.4/5.03.35/5.0Winter6.2%83.5English pint
View Statistics  P 

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?  
 JoeMcPhee (4893), 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 (415), 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 (1120), 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 (3127), 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 (474), 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 (1132), 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.


 Ibrew2or3 (2714), Safety Harbor, Florida, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/515/20
Dec 20, 2008  
Bottles courtesy of kiefdog. Pours deep copper with near gold edges and thin off white head. The aroma is a combination of malts and dark fruitiness to go along with a sensation of musty cherry puree. The taste has different levels of maltiness mixing with mild fruity esters and mild winter spices. Beyond midway I get a bit of smokiness that adds a very welcome extra bit of complexity. Into the finish molasses and mild burnt malts murmur to the surface just before the experience expires.



CONSIDER FREE RATEBEER MEMBERSHIP



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

SIGN UP NOW »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

What's Your Opinion?
Tell us what you think of this beer. Start your free RateBeer account now.
» Click here.

More Premium Bitter/ESBs

Crooked River Original ESB (3.88)

Oakham Gravity (3.71)

Rogue Brutal Bitter (3.71)

Barleys J. Scott Francis ESB (3.67)

Crouch Vale Santas Revenge (3.65)

Fullers ESB (Bottle/Keg) (3.63)

Southern Tier Harvest Ale (3.62)

Schlafly Winter ESB (3.61)

Bedondaine et Bedons Ronds Amère Veilleuse (3.58)

Laughing Dog Crotch Sniffing Bastard (3.58)

AleSmith Anvil ESB (3.58)

Victory ESB (3.57)

McNeills Extra Special Bitter Ale (3.56)

Sweetwater Motor Boat (3.55)

The Cambridge House Old Mill Pond ESB (3.54)


About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Add A Brewer | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Log out | Feedback? | Copyright 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC