Gritty McDuffs Halloween Ale

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

Date: February 01, 2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Appearance: dark amber, whispy tan head
Aroma: light sweet malt aroma
Flavor: rich carmel malt flavor, nice spicy balancing hop, touch of sweetness, light bitter finish

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Date: September 24, 1995
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub
Vintage: 1995
Smooth, strong, slight bitters

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Score: ***4

Date: September 26, 1997
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub
Vintage: 1997
Appearance: deep clean amber, frothy head and nice lace
Aroma: rich sweet malty butterscotch aroma
Flavor: rich malt flavor followed by a good dose of lingering bitterness

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Score: **4

Date: October 17, 1997
Mode: Firkin
Source: Brewpub
Vintage: 1997
Appearance: deep clean amber, frothy head and lotsa lace
Aroma: strong malt aroma
Flavor: rich malty flavor, a touch of butter, hint of the 7% esters

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 8/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Score: *4

The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Bright orangey-amber; aroma is a mix of allspice & caramel. Fairly alcoholic palate, with fruity notes and the odd bit of caramel and earth. Decent brew, but why is this their smash hit?

(12oz bottle, best by 10/08) Clear copper body topped by small beige head. Aroma is medium sweet, allspice, ginger, some floral. Taste is medium sweet, floral/earthy, ginger, some toffee/caramel, clove, light cinnamon. Light-medium body.

12oz bottle labeled best before S 07. Poured a deeper copper color with an averaged sized off white head. Aromas of toasted malts, caramel with light chocolate in the background. Tastes of toasted malts, chocolate (stronger than the aromas), light caramel, and citrus.

Orange-cloured beer with a light off-white head. Pretty mineral, rather clean. Its bitter finish shows up rather swiftly and unexpectedly. Leafy, spicy palate. Stoney, apricot notes and mild earthiness complete the portrait. Dry palate. Nothing very special about this one.

(Bottle) Pours a clear amber body with a small off-white head. Aroma of caramel, nuts, toastiness, and cocoa. Flavor of caramel, nuts, toffee, and light clove.

12oz bottle-pours a tan head and red/copper color. Aroma is medium malt-molasses/peat, some spice. Taste is unbalanced/not quite right, although not bad. Malty, English/metallic hops (maybe a bit over boiled), some herbal. Kind of a dark English Pale Ale.

Pours a clear deep caramel with a nicely-lacing bone-colored head. Aroma is dry, toasty, and lightly dark caramel malty with some musk. Starts with a semi-sweet toasty dark caramel and sticky palate with a thinner, sugary crystal maltiness. An ok ESB.