Best Bitter
Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company

Best BitterBest Bitter
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From:
Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
 
Maine, United States
Style:
English Bitter
Ranked #88
ABV:
5%
Score:
82
Ranked #25,121
Avg:
3.6 | pDev: 12.5%
Reviews:
116
Ratings:
197
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 26, 2022
Added:
Apr 26, 1999
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  10
Best Bitter was the first beer we ever brewed, way back in 1988 at our Portland Brew Pub. This true English classic has been the anchor of our draft selection ever since.

Best Bitter is a copper-hued and well-balanced ale with real old world integrity. We use fine Yakima Golding hop flowers in the brewing of this beer for a fine dry finish that compliments the malty palate. The taste captures the freshness of a hand-drawn ale that goes right from the conditioning tank to your glass!

25 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by KarlosT:
Photo of KarlosT
Reviewed by KarlosT from Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -23.6%
Wow. Can't believe the high scores.

Got a flight at the Gritty McDuff's in Portland ME:
Halloween Ale
Cask Best Bitter
Maine's Best IPA
Pub Style

All were exactly the same amber color, with the same head. The aroma was exactly the same, except for the Pub Style. I also had a pint of their Black Fly Stout, which fortunately did have a different color.

I iterated between their Halloween Ale, their IPA, and their Cask Bitter. All were exactly the same, except that the Cask Bitter was slightly warmer.

When I suggested to the waitress that the beers might have been mis-poured, she said that they were correct, that she was also a bartender, and that she could tell from the color of the pours.

Assuming what I drank was correct ...

I found the beer was watery, and it was as though they used poor quality water. All their beers had an off after-taste ... as though their was a Gritty McDuffs flavor they added to all their beers (including their stout)

Mouth feel was watery. And a little evervescent ... a slight bite from the c02. Interesting, even the cask best bitter had a slight CO2 bite to it.

Very sorry I went to this pub. Food was ok. But the beers were mediocre to poor.
Oct 18, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.85/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Cask at the Great British Beer Festival 2008. Deep golden to amber colour. Nice fruity hops in the aroma. Decent hops in the flavour too, notes of blackcurrant leaves.
Oct 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.94 by Taenim from Maine

Apr 16, 2022
 
Rated: 2.64 by PaulSlazinger from Pennsylvania

Feb 20, 2020
 
Rated: 3 by Lefty_P_Hand from Maine

Mar 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.56 by Kayakguy from Massachusetts

Jul 13, 2017
 
Rated: 3.42 by MKrauss from Pennsylvania

Jun 23, 2017
Photo of TheBigBeerGuy19
Rated by TheBigBeerGuy19 from Canada (ON)

2.4/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Not a fan of this beer. Was hoping for more after hearing good things from a few friends. Taste is inconsistent from beer to beer.
Jun 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by Bhunter0812 from Massachusetts

May 28, 2017
 
Rated: 3.19 by GFD400 from New York

Sep 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.65 by briandaube from Delaware

Aug 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by smanson56 from New Hampshire

May 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.52 by paresis from Massachusetts

Feb 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by Lare453 from Florida

Oct 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

Sep 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.13 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Sep 02, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by mthomp081 from Delaware

Aug 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.35 by rolltide8425 from Pennsylvania

Jul 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.41 by Chuck13 from Massachusetts

Jul 23, 2015
Photo of Sludgeman
Rated by Sludgeman from District of Columbia

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Had this beer on cask. Definitely made for a better tasting beer, but this beer no where near the top of my list.
May 13, 2015
Best Bitter from Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 197 ratings