Gritty McDuffs Christmas Ale

Brewed by Gritty McDuffs
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Portland, Maine USA

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A holiday brew?? Tastes like a mild esb to me, not much welcoming falvor as the name would suggest, where are the spices, the nutmeg, etc?? But, nonetheless, its grittys, its from maine, its all good.