Gritty McDuff's Christmas Ale | Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
Maine, United States
grittys.com
Style: English Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.20%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
If it looks like Ed just got merrier, you're right. Every November heralds the return of our holiday seasonal, Christmas Ale – available on draft and in six-packs. Our Christmas Ale is a robust E.S.B. (Extra Special Bitter) full of holiday cheer. Christmas Ale 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! Happy Holidays!
28.5 IBU
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 197 | Reviews: 125
3.76/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip.
This is not what I was expecting, based on the name. I was looking forward to a big, spicy, malty, winter warmer of an ale, but discovered a nice ESB instead. This English style bitter pours dark brown, yet clear, with a one-finger cap of foam that quickly dissipated to a thin ring. The aroma wafting from the glass is light and malty with hints of caramel. The taste boosts the caramel flavor, balanced by the earthy bitterness of English hops. It is medium bodied with a light prickle from the carbonation. Overall, a very good, but not outstanding brew, but definitely worth a try. I enjoyed it and would buy it again. Very enjoyable.
681 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip.
This is not what I was expecting, based on the name. I was looking forward to a big, spicy, malty, winter warmer of an ale, but discovered a nice ESB instead. This English style bitter pours dark brown, yet clear, with a one-finger cap of foam that quickly dissipated to a thin ring. The aroma wafting from the glass is light and malty with hints of caramel. The taste boosts the caramel flavor, balanced by the earthy bitterness of English hops. It is medium bodied with a light prickle from the carbonation. Overall, a very good, but not outstanding brew, but definitely worth a try. I enjoyed it and would buy it again. Very enjoyable.
681 characters
4.18/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.01/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from the 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams English nonick.
a: Clear dark ruby with a finger thick offwhite head which receded to thick surface foam and patchy lacing.
s: Mainly caramel malt.
t; Strong caramel malt with a slightly tangy hop bite.
m; Medium, good body and carbonation tingle.
o: A fine holiday ESB in the British tradition, substantially malty and warmly satisfying.
395 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from the 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams English nonick.
a: Clear dark ruby with a finger thick offwhite head which receded to thick surface foam and patchy lacing.
s: Mainly caramel malt.
t; Strong caramel malt with a slightly tangy hop bite.
m; Medium, good body and carbonation tingle.
o: A fine holiday ESB in the British tradition, substantially malty and warmly satisfying.
395 characters
4.23/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
3.29/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.75/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.25/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
2.85/5 rDev -24.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Taste like a chardonnay. Great if you love bitter things, horrible if your palate lies elsewhere.
97 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Taste like a chardonnay. Great if you love bitter things, horrible if your palate lies elsewhere.
97 characters
3.81/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle was poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: This beer poured a one finger off brown head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a copper color with good clarity and vision of bubbles coming up through the glass. Spotty lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.
Smell: Toasted malts, caramel, earthy hops, and a little fruitiness.
Taste: Toasted and caramel with some earthy hop bitterness and some fruitiness.
Mouthfeel: Chewy, a little bitterness, light bodied, and medium carbonation.
Overall: Pretty nice English bitter. Very enjoyable and easy to drink.
573 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle was poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: This beer poured a one finger off brown head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a copper color with good clarity and vision of bubbles coming up through the glass. Spotty lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.
Smell: Toasted malts, caramel, earthy hops, and a little fruitiness.
Taste: Toasted and caramel with some earthy hop bitterness and some fruitiness.
Mouthfeel: Chewy, a little bitterness, light bodied, and medium carbonation.
Overall: Pretty nice English bitter. Very enjoyable and easy to drink.
573 characters
Gritty McDuff's Christmas Ale from Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.79 out of
5 with
197 ratings
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