Gritty McDuff's Best Brown Ale - Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company

mdale13

Maine

3.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Brown with red highlights. Moderate white/tan head. Poured into a pint glass from tap at Gritty McDuff's in Freeport, ME

S- Some malts. Carmel. A understated sweetness.

T- Malts are present. Sweet flavor. Bitter finish.

M- A little too watery for my tastes. Carbonation is present.

D- I usually have a pint of this when I hit Gritty's with the guys. I usually follow it up with a different brew, but you could drink 2 or more in a night.

Other- Grittys in Freeport is my local brewpub, so I go there often, so I sort of learn to live with the beers. Not that they arent good, but they arent shining examples of the beer-types, which is the case with this, Grittys Best Brown.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2009 20:47:06 | More by mdale13

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Off their tap in Auburn this beer was a classic copper color with a thin off-white head. The retention was poor and the lacing the same. The aroma was of toasted malt with some understated hops. The flavors were simple but well-balanced. Toasted malt and some nutty elements with a touch of bitter hops that cut through to the finish. The body was medium, the carbonation delicate and the mouthfeel good. Definitely a session beer and, though boring, quite drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2009 02:48:01 | More by thekevlarkid

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +24%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a decent brown color, with some copper tinges to it. The head was tan, thin but dissapates rapidly. A bit of lace, but not much. There is roasty, malty, scent to it that is quite pleasant. Medium bodied, and pleasantly smooth, relatively-speaking, on the tongue. Flavor was malty, toasty, and a bit nutty. Not bad overall.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2008 17:17:59 | More by Jayli

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This was a malt special and a nice example of a Brown Ale.

Dark Copper in color with a nice off white head.

Not much of an aroma but certainly what was there was roasty and sweet predicting the malt flavor to follow.

Flavor was Roasty, Toasty, slightly sweet and nice. Warmed the heart as I drank it.

I really liked that it seemed to have a crisp finish to it.

Good effort.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2008 22:08:15 | More by Reagan1984

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Gritty McDuff- Portland

A- Chestnut brown with a small head.
S- Sweet caramel malt with light nut aroma and toasted bread.
T- Walnut, acorn, pine nuts toffee malt.
M- Sweet throughout but finishing mild and dry.

Overall- A decent pint. Sessionable definitely.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2007 23:25:10 | More by NJpadreFan

albern

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer poured a nice reddish amber, slightly brown. It is a medium bodied ale, with a nice amount of carbonation. It has decent lacing, not a great head though. The smell is sweet malts, dry roasted smell. There are no hops in the smell. The taste is nice, not exceptional, but nice. You can taste some hoppy embers, but mostly caramel flavors. As the beer warms, more grain flavors come through. This isn't an overly complex beer but well worth seeking out if you are visiting the brewpub. L'Chaim

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2007 18:12:41 | More by albern

HoorayBeer

Washington

3.7/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sitting at Gritty McDuff's, this was an easy one to pick up.

Nice amber color with a thin head that left as soon as I started drinking it.

Hoppy aroma, with a nut and caramel infused finish. Almost a skunky smell, not a bad skunk, just pungent.

Good full flavored brew. Hoppy flavors present right away. Smoothe finish with the nut and caramel mix, and a bite with the bitters, well done.

Nice brew for a nice day on the porch. Overall a good brew.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2005 15:39:39 | More by HoorayBeer

Gavage

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Gritty's in Portland. Clear dark amber / brown in color with a decent 1" head. Some spotty lace develops. The aroma was weak, only faint traces of caramel and some hops were detected. The flavor was a very nice earthy, roasted nut, and caramel combination with some reasonable bitterness and a hint of citrus.

Medium bodied brew. Mouthfeel was lightly crisp at the start, and finish dry and smooth. Caramel lingers briefly on the tongue after swallowing. I found this to be nicely drinakble.

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2005 23:53:07 | More by Gavage

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It pours a brown-amber with a small beige head and some sticky and trailing lace.
A cut hay-like malty smell is noticeable at first. A tea-like hoppy smell follows, as does a light fruity bouquet.
The malt body is a little thinner than the usual Brown Ale style. A taste of toasty malt, dry hay and a bit of caramel sweetness blends well with the tea-like and citrusy hop flavors. A light fruity (mainly apples) flavor shows up about halfway through the glass. This beer paired well with Gritty's Beer Battered Fish & Chips.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2004 22:56:51 | More by BeerResearcher

oberon

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a lighter shade of brown maybe a little amber hue with a lighter head,the aroma is definantly malty with some caramel sweetness.Taste is nice and sweet (not overpowering) but some nice earthiness creeps in there some nice roasted malt flavors makes this a nice more complex brown than Iam used to.Did seem a little thin though as I drank more,a few modifications and this could be a real brown to look for.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2003 00:41:59 | More by oberon

UnionMade

Colorado

3.85/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer is a rich mahogany brown, tinted with red. Good clarity. A thin white head tops the beer, dissipating into a ring around the glass, but never disappearing.
Aroma is mostly a sweet caramel maltiness. Some toasted malt, with very light chocolate. The chocolate isn't as pronounced as the cask or bottled version, but still present. Some light fig and plum, with a touch of diacetyl butterscotch. Slight graininess.
The flavor starts with a bready caramel maltiness, a bit of toasted malt and very light chocolate. Pretty much just a cameo appearance. Some graininess comes through in the middle, with mild estery plum and a suggestion of fig. Extremely mild herbal hops come through in the finish, with malt mostly carrying the beer all the way through. Moderately carbonated, with a lightish medium body. Some grainy toasted malt and a touch of diacetyl in the aftertaste.
A well balanced brown ale. Not as good as the cask or bottled versions, in my opion. It lacks much of the chocolatey goodness that really sets it apart from other brown ales. Still robust, but withouth as much complexity to the flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2003 06:14:39 | More by UnionMade

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

3.38/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best by October 2012:

Into a pint glass::

A: deep brown colored body with a small off-white one finger head that has no lacing, body is too hazy for any bubbles to be seen rising.

S: some caramel and nuts up front with a bit of roastiness.

T: nuttiness in front of the caramel and roastiness and gives a slight sweet finish.

M: medium with a good balance between wet and dry. It is mostly creamy.

O: I've been seeking this out for a while and am glad I finally got it. However, perhaps slightly disappointed since it wasn't as good as I was hoping

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 18:32:24 | More by kangarooAdam59

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

2.33/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This beer pours a bold, clear copper color with no head or lace. The aroma is nutty with a hint of bread crust. The flavor leads with roasted nuts with caramel and mild smoke notes. It's mouthfeel is light-medium and the finish is dry. Gritty McDuffs Best Brown is a decent beer, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 01:48:36 | More by B967ierhunter177

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle dated April 2012. Sampled on April 27, 2012. It is a nice looking albeit headless beer with dark amber tones and good clarity. The aroma is of malts and nuts mainly with a clean enough hop note thrown in. The body is thin to medium. The taste has a more than moderate bitterness to it along with malts with an off-dry finish. There are better browns out there but this is alright.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 00:02:06 | More by puboflyons

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle dates 'til June.

Clear, auburn brown. Thin gristle head is gone by mid-glass. Nutty aroma with a swampy tea hop vein throughout. Some bread at the end. Taste is nutty and toffee sweet malt with some hop tea spice to hold it all together. A bit thin but I'm treating this as a session beer so I'll let it slide.

Gritty's Best Brown hits all necessary points for a session brown but doesn't reach beyond them. It does come across as "together" and the sum of GBB's parts are better than any individual aspect.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 10:55:43 | More by donkeyrunner

mdaschaf

Washington

3/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to my brother for this one.

A: Pours a deep brown color with a small off-white head that has little retention and minimal lacing.

S: Some caramel, a little bit of roast and a surprising amount of dark fruit and raisins.

T: Very nutty, there really isn't much dark fruit in the flavor profile as was expected based off the aroma. Has a rather sweet finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, but on the thin side.

O: It's ok, nothing really wrong with it, but just not that great.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 02:31:51 | More by mdaschaf

beyah

Maine

3.38/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - The color is a medium brown the head is off white and the lacing hangs in there.

S - The aroma from the malts is predominant, not much hop aroma.

T - Taste is with a clear caramel malt flavor, similar to a nut brown but not as intense. The hops are barely noticeable.

M - Crisp with a light body and medium carbonation.

O - Easy drinking, more of a light beer version of a nut brown. Good with pretzels or nuts.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 01:15:10 | More by beyah

BigCheese

Massachusetts

2.98/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got a Gritty MixPack on sale, drink before June date, so I'm guessing this was brewed a month or 2 ago (Also their christmas mixpack)

A: Colored more like a dark red/amber than a true brown ale. Quite transparent, minimal head, no lacing.

S: Sweet maltiness, taffy candy maybe, a touch of citrus hops in smell. Best part of the brew.

T: Has a cheap lactose/sweet stout sweetness to it. Biscuity, some bitterness, or I think its bitterness, not hops though, more of an astrigent dry flavor. Not a fan.

M: Clean, Dry, light, has a macro BMC like consistency to it. Probably a good session beer if you like the flavor.

O: One of the more dissapointing brews I've had lately. Perhaps a BMC drinker would enjoy as it seems to me like a more flavorful/malty bud. Grittys is a pretty weak brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 01:27:01 | More by BigCheese

KTCamm

New Jersey

2.85/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Pours a thinly colored brown, some light notes, almost red. Little island of foam. Ale smell, little nutty. Very light, watery-thin ale. Like a brown lite. Minimal flavor - some sweetness. Low carbonation. So so at best. Much better browns out there, I tend to like Gritty beers, but this one is a miss.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 11:43:02 | More by KTCamm

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle to pint glass. Best before January 2012 notched on the label. Sampled 8/4/11.

A: Pours with a healthy 2 finger head, foamy and airy and light brown in color. Retention is between good and excellent and, once faded, leaves some bubbly islands plus an uneven collar in its wake. The body is a medium-dark shade of copper: think worn penny.

S: Clearly English style. Toffee leads the way with caramel in tow. Very little dark malt character. The hops bring about meager hints of sappy wood. Straightforward nose and flavor.

T: Prominent toffee, maybe some maple syrup, and a light fruitiness that comes across with a flavor similar to dates. Lightly metallic on the finish. No ABV is listed but this beers drinks like a 5.5%.

M: Light to medium body with a slick texture. The effervescence is semi lively.

O: Fairly standard offering. Not worth revisiting.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 02:40:25 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

2.28/5  rDev -29%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass, the beer pours a light amber-brown coloring that is very transparent...borderline watery. A very thin layer of filmy white head tops this brew. The nose is sugary sweet, with notes of nut, coffee, and a roasted character...syrupy characteristics overall. The beer's flavor is empty on the front tongue...completely. The back tongue gets a nut sweetness, but only for an instant...a little roast, too, but so quick it's hard to tell. This is a weak flavored brew. The aftertaste is roasted and slightly tangy caramel sweet, but only for a nanosecond. The finish is...you guessed it...watered down and nondescript. I'd drainpour this one, but I haven't had enough water today, so here goes...

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 03:27:29 | More by GarthDanielson

ggilman

Maine

2.68/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle poured into a DFH snifter.

One finger of loose foamy head settles quickly to a wisp after a vigorous pour. No lacing. Body is mostly clear amber, not brown at all. Nose is alcohol, oakish vanilla and butterscotch. Pretty clean taste. A little roasted malt, a little nutty roux. Fruity buttery phenols with a complete absence of hops. Not sure who they're going after with this one, but it's not me. In fairness, I'm not typically a drinker of brown ales, but I also like anything that's well made. This tastes clean and pure, but nothing stands out beyond that. Watery and lack luster.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 00:06:03 | More by ggilman

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

1.78/5  rDev -44.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Light brown with nice amount of bubbles. One-finger white head that did not last more than a minute. No Lacing. Overall, too light for a brown ale.

S: Roasted and fruity, but not much there. I can smell alcohol.

T: What is this? Slightly sweet, no hop bitterness at all. Off flavors. Yuck.

M: Light body and very watery. Not what a brown ale should be. Carbonation was okay though.

O: This was the worst brown ale I've tried. I knew it might not be that great before trying it, but I tried to keep an open mind, which didn't help. Awful.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 00:49:47 | More by SolipsismalCat

Stranger5582

New York

2.7/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

This brown ale doesn't have a strong flavor at all. My first impression was that it's a bit watery and lacking in taste. The coloration is more akin to an amber, than a brown. In fact, I've seen some amber ales with darker hues than this beer. The beer's taste doesn't seem to come alive until its finish, which is still a bit lackluster.

Overall, it does taste like a brown ale, but its on the light side. The heady burned taste that most brown ales slam into your tongue is missing and is instead replaced by an almost summer ale-ish brown ale experience.

If you're usually a light ale or summer ale drinker, this brown ale may be just what you need as a transition into heavier beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2011 02:29:15 | More by Stranger5582

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

2.58/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a pint glass: nice light tan head, lightly fluffy, no clinging an dissipated to a ring. Color is translucent brown, to a dark copper/amber.

Smell is very feint chocolate/caramel malt, but so thin.

Taste is a bit more than the nose in terms of hint more chocolate flavor with hints of grains and oats but very thin, only hop flavor is enough to slightly balance hops.

Mouthfeel is balanced, with a slight lingering sweetness.

Overall a bit thin on flavor and smell for a brown, just a touch more in the nose and taste would boost it as it is a very clean beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 23:18:15 | More by mvanaskie13