Gritty McDuff's Halloween Ale | Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
Maine, United States
grittys.com
Style: Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.00%
Availability: Fall
Notes / Commercial Description:
Every fall marks the return of our legendary Extra Special Bitter for the season, Halloween Ale – the beer so good, it's scary! From its humble beginnings in 1990 as a small-batch seasonal in our Portland Brew Pub, Halloween Ale has grown to be one of the year's most anticipated beer releases. This robust brew has a deep amber color, a bold, malty palate and a well-rounded hop finish. The perfect beer for a crisp autumn day!
Added by UncleJimbo on 08-29-2001
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 321 | Reviews: 185
2.75/5 rDev -27.2%
rderedin, Jun 22, 2014
3.31/5 rDev -12.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
From Notes on 10-17-13, On-Tap at the brewpub.
A - Clear dark orange amber with half a finger of white head, no lacing.
S - Some light candied pumpkin, touch of caramel malt.
T - Sweet and sugary at first, light on the pumpkin flavor, a lot of peppery spice at the end.
M - Light bitterness and a tad soapy which is weird.
O - Mediocre at best, lacks character and pumpkin flavor.
381 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
From Notes on 10-17-13, On-Tap at the brewpub.
A - Clear dark orange amber with half a finger of white head, no lacing.
S - Some light candied pumpkin, touch of caramel malt.
T - Sweet and sugary at first, light on the pumpkin flavor, a lot of peppery spice at the end.
M - Light bitterness and a tad soapy which is weird.
O - Mediocre at best, lacks character and pumpkin flavor.
381 characters
3.28/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
I poured this beer into a glass and it has a reddish color body with a very small head to it. The smell has a malty, carmel taste. The taste is kinda sweet and malty, a little velvety, on the back of the tongue i get a little bitterness. The mouthfeel is oily smooth and overall is a ok beer.
292 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
I poured this beer into a glass and it has a reddish color body with a very small head to it. The smell has a malty, carmel taste. The taste is kinda sweet and malty, a little velvety, on the back of the tongue i get a little bitterness. The mouthfeel is oily smooth and overall is a ok beer.
292 characters
4.18/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bottle into pint glass.
Nice amber color and creamy head with decent lacing.
Sweet, malty aroma with a hint of hops. Nice nose overall.
From the first time I had it(I get some every year when I go to Maine) I always described the flavor as kind of buttery, with caramel in there too, which hits you towards the end.
The mouthfeel is almost,to me, oily smooth, to go along with the buttery taste.
This is one of my favorite, non stout/porter beers.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from bottle into pint glass.
Nice amber color and creamy head with decent lacing.
Sweet, malty aroma with a hint of hops. Nice nose overall.
From the first time I had it(I get some every year when I go to Maine) I always described the flavor as kind of buttery, with caramel in there too, which hits you towards the end.
The mouthfeel is almost,to me, oily smooth, to go along with the buttery taste.
This is one of my favorite, non stout/porter beers.
463 characters
3.88/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A-Pours a clear reddish copper color. Thin, off white head. Lots of droopy lacing
S-Really nice nose that is stylistically accurate. Tea-like hops and a big caramel covered apple aroma. Mostly sweet. Decadent.
T-Apples and overly steeped tea. Caramel and hard toffee candies. A bit of spicy hoppiness.
M-A bit sticky and the carbonation is a little soft. It still drinks easy enough,
O/D-Really gotta respect their Fall seasonal is an ESB. I think more brewers should experiment with this style. Enjoyable beer and it's been around for quite a whole too. Surprised it's taken me this long to try.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A-Pours a clear reddish copper color. Thin, off white head. Lots of droopy lacing
S-Really nice nose that is stylistically accurate. Tea-like hops and a big caramel covered apple aroma. Mostly sweet. Decadent.
T-Apples and overly steeped tea. Caramel and hard toffee candies. A bit of spicy hoppiness.
M-A bit sticky and the carbonation is a little soft. It still drinks easy enough,
O/D-Really gotta respect their Fall seasonal is an ESB. I think more brewers should experiment with this style. Enjoyable beer and it's been around for quite a whole too. Surprised it's taken me this long to try.
601 characters
3.98/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from the colorful 12 oz. bottle into a Harpoon IPA glass
a: Clear dark red/brown amber, finger high offwhite head receded to thin surface foam and almost no lacing.
s: Caramel malt
t: Rich caramel malt forward with what they say is hops, but seems a bit different in that there is an unusual sharpness rather than mere bitterness involved.
m: Moderate, good body, hops(?) tingling on the tongue is not carbonation, which seems light.
o: Great caramel malt base is run down a bit by the sharpness of the hops. Still a fine dinner or holiday brew when you want something slightly different but still basically very English.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from the colorful 12 oz. bottle into a Harpoon IPA glass
a: Clear dark red/brown amber, finger high offwhite head receded to thin surface foam and almost no lacing.
s: Caramel malt
t: Rich caramel malt forward with what they say is hops, but seems a bit different in that there is an unusual sharpness rather than mere bitterness involved.
m: Moderate, good body, hops(?) tingling on the tongue is not carbonation, which seems light.
o: Great caramel malt base is run down a bit by the sharpness of the hops. Still a fine dinner or holiday brew when you want something slightly different but still basically very English.
634 characters
Gritty McDuff's Halloween Ale from Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
3.78
out of 5
based on 321 ratings.