Gritty McDuff's Halloween Ale - Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company

Hibernator

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Gritty's Halloween Ale
12 oz brown bottle
Best before September 2013 notched on the side label (?)
Served in a 20 oz tulip glass

Pours a light brown color with pumpkin orange highlights on the bottom of the glass. A decent head forms on top with surprisingly nice trails of sticky lacings on the side of the glassware.

Smells like freshly baked bread with melting butter.

This is a really smooth beer with a strong malt and bready backbone. The finish provides a hint of that classic Maine craft beer flavor of butter. I'm never quite sure if that is diacetyl yeast I'm detecting. I have a tendency to get that taste from Maine brews like Gritty's and Geary's. Other flavors of sweet caramel and brown sugar contribute to this beer's flavor. A nice mini hop snap on the finish helps round everything out.

A drinkable Fall offering and at $7.99 a 12 pack from Supreme Liquors, I'm really glad I decided to try this out.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 00:47:34 | More by Hibernator

mountdew1

New Hampshire

3.78/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an imperial pint glass. Color was a dark orangey amber. Thin off white head with a bit of side cling. A few sad streams of carbonation rose from the bottom. Aroma was primarily malts, a small bit of smokey sweetness. Also able to pick up a bit of sour, something like a lime. Flavor was a slightly bitter tangey malt. Nicely developed to want one to keep drinking. Felt good in the mouth, well coated and nicely carbonated. Overall it was a nice beer, but really had nothing to tie it to Halloween.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 22:35:54 | More by mountdew1

Cavanaghty

Maine

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Reddish amber color with a beige head of about one finger. Mild lacing on the glass.

Smell: Carmel, malts, hops, maybe some grass and nutty notes to it as well. The smell is not overpowering.

Mouthfeel/Taste: A little rough, but not bad, typical of Gritty's. Medium Bodied. Taste of roasted malts, carmel, and a bit of a nutty aftertaste.

Overall: Great brew. I usually find my self having a few of these around September and October, goes great wiht some fresh game meat, or poultry.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 19:58:15 | More by Cavanaghty

MacCherry

2.55/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into pint glass.

A- Beautiful brown/copper with a creamy, off-white head @2in thick. Laced all the way down. This is what beer should look like; before, during, and after.

S- Metallic. Some grain, a little caramel, and some yeastiness. But it's just swimming in this metallic twang. At first I thought it was the glass, then maybe just this bottle, but subsequent bottles were the same. Not sure what the deal is here.

T- A little more of that caramel breadiness. Dry, dry, dry and long-lived hop bitterness.

M- Tight carbonation hides some of the malt sweetness. A little on the sticky side.

O- I can't see why they would market an ESB far inferior to the Gritty's Bitter. I suppose you've got to do some market pandering, but I expected more from this beer than a Halloween label and a "it's not a pumpkin-beer" presentation.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 20:29:20 | More by MacCherry

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Barcade in Jersey City, NJ

A: Pours a clear very dark amber in color. The beer has a quarter finger tall creamy light beige head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer with a medium sized thicker patch and a thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of bready malts with some light hints of toffee sweetness and grassy hops. Light notes of spices - cinnamon and nutmeg.

T: Very similar to the smell, there are flavors of bready malts with some toffee sweetness. After that, there are light notes of bitterness from the grassy hops and some light flavors of nutmeg.

M: Slightly heavier than light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: Enjoyable and definitely a unique take on a Halloween beer - the lack of pumpkin and the style are quite unusual choices. Sessionable, easy to drink, and enjoyable. I would have another of these. Perfect for fall.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2012 20:18:48 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

3.83/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Barcade, Jersey City, NJ

A: The beer is clear and very dark amber in color and has no visible carbonation. It poured with a thin off white that gradually faded away, leaving a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of grassy malts, toffee and spices in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of malts and grassy hops along with some notes of spices towards the finish.
M: It feels on the lighter side of being medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is a nice change of pace fall beer if you are looking for something seasonal but don't want a pumpkin ale or a märzen. It is also rather easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2012 12:54:51 | More by metter98

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

At Antonia's, Freeport, ME:

A: burnt brown colored body and gave a small off white/brown head. Some haunting lacing slowly slid down the glass as the beer went down.

S: slight caramel and apples with a bit of a woody yeast and earthy hops to it too.

T: sweet through caramel, light ginger, and apples, mainly an cooked apple aftertaste, hops once the beer warms a bit

M: medium, sessionable, yeasty finish with some light hops in that

O: full-flavored beer that I always come back every season it comes out since I've lived in Maine.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2012 16:23:38 | More by kangarooAdam59

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Clear copper with an unexpectedly impressive stalwart head. Leaves a lacey mess all over my glass. While the new tie dye Halloween label art is great I like the old headless bartender better.

Caramel and molasses cookie aroma.

Caramel and rum offset by a medical bitter. I found the hops contradictory rather than balancing. More bitter than I remember from a few years ago but I

Sweet and caramel-ly like Halloween candy.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 23:36:23 | More by donkeyrunner

SickGnar

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Deep copper with a distinctly russet / dark orange hue. Bright and clear with a few streams of bubbles rising to join the light khaki head of fair to large size. Fair retention and lacing is alright.

S: Holy FN diacetyl. Now, a hint would be okay – but this is silly. Butter & toffee dominate every other aroma. Next I get some herbal and sort of tea-like hops. Diacetyl and hops clash. Way in the background are some malt notes and a touch of malty sweetness.

T: This amount of diacetyl might work in something dark & rich & roasty. But in something this hoppy it just does not work. Big difference from the nose is a firm bit of fruity esters. Other than that it follows the nose (most unfortunately). Opens with buttery toffee fighting it out with the herbal/grassy/earthy hops. Fruity esters quickly join the fray. The malt base never really pushes through the discordant mess. End sees a quick flash of roast and then the finish is earthy & woody hops & lingering butter. Yum! (<- sarcasm).

M: Medium plus body with CO2 average or a touch under. Quite soapy mouthfeel –slick and a tad thick. A bit of drying from the hops, but stays largely sweet.

D: I can sort of see the woodsy caramel apple thing a few folks mention. Maybe with a less bitter beer I might get that too. Or tone down the butter and keep it an ESB. As is – I find it a discordant & muddled mess. Usually I like a touch of diacetyl in certain styles, but this one was hard to finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 17:47:36 | More by SickGnar

jsanford

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a Pint Glass.

A - Poured a dark copper with a creamy off-white head that settles to a thick haze, leaving lots of spotty lacing clinging to the glass.
S - Pleasant aromas of sweet caramel malt, toasted grain, brown sugar, and a touch of spice.
T - Similar to the nose, moderately sweet malt profile with a bit of spice and a nice, fairly long-lasting bitterness.
M - Smooth and creamy, with a medium body and good carbonation. Very drinkable.
O - A nicely sessionable ESB, not sure what makes it "Halloween" but it's good nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 21:19:11 | More by jsanford

u2carew

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A bit late on this one but oh well...
12oz longneck.
A) Pours with a finger thick head with great retention - tight and creamy. Clear mahogany-ruby color. Head retention lasted until the end with sticky side lacing on the drink down.
S) Caramel malts. Subtle brown sugar and spices.
T) A pleasant sweet caramel and brown sugar. Hints of tree fruit - apple and plums. A subtle hop bite in the finish - mostly harmless.
M) Creamy. Medium light body. Dry in the finish.
O) A delicious brew. Could be renamed something else and kept on as a year long.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 01:26:44 | More by u2carew

THECPJ

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes: Had on draft at Arena's.

appearance: copper orange with a 1 finger off white head

smell: caramel, malt, hops, bread, spice

taste: spice, caramel, malts,

mouthfeel: mild carbonation, medium body,

overall: not exactly the halloween beer I was expecting but I won't say its bad. glad I ordered it actually.

Cheers,
The CPJ

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2011 02:57:59 | More by THECPJ

beyah

Maine

4.08/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Deep copper brown, slightly cloudy slight off white head with decent lacing.

Smell - Smell that Ringwood yeast, spicy with a very slight hops sell.

Taste - Sweet and a slight bit fruity, Ringwood yeast is there as well.

Mouthfeel - Very smooth, perfect carbonation for the style, let it warm up a few degrees before enjoying.

Overall - One of the best beers of this season. I will get again next year.

Had it again in 2012, still very nice, we had it with Pot Roast tonight and I can tell you this is the perfect beer to have with a New England Pot Roast.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 01:29:21 | More by beyah

Cadebro

Maine

3.43/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours copper.

S - Smells of earth and molasses.

T - Molasses and a slight spice up front, finishes bitter.

M - Medium body and carbonation.

D - One of my favorite autumn ales and a solid Bitter Ale. Not over flavored and spiced like many Halloween ales.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 01:38:57 | More by Cadebro

brentk56

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear burnt sienna, with a massive ecru head that leaves a spooky pattern of lace

Smell: Caramel and apples with a woodsy yeast and earthy hop edge

Taste: Caramel and apple dunkin', at the outset, with a phenolic edge that develops by mid-palate that relates to both the Ringwood and the English hop bill; apple flavors come through strong into the finish, though there is also the caramel as well as the persistent yeast and hop elements

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A full-flavored beer, though I wouldn't call it an ESB; Halloween Ale describes it perfectly as it had the caramel apple and the woodsy Autumn flavors nailed; interesting, though not something I would likely seek out again

Thanks, Bendurgin, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 20:15:12 | More by brentk56

neophilus

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pour is a deep amber color, nearly red with hints of orange. Quite appropriate for the season. Brilliantly clear, I can look through the glass and see the distinct yet lens-distorted image of the room around me as if looking through an amber colored funhouse window.

Smells of rich, earthy bread dough. Slightly spicy, fresh and clean. It tingles the nose while bringing images of flaky bread crust right out of the oven. The aroma is rather invigorating, the malty scent draws you in and begs for a first sip.

That sip brings smooth bitterness up front with a long and slow malt finish. Delicious flavor - earthy, savory without any hint of herbs. Full bodied, mildly spicy malt embraces the tongue while hints of hoppy bitterness dance on top, never overpowering but always stopping the brew from being cloying.

The body is full without feeling heavy. Creamy and smooth, but not sticky. It washes away cleanly leaving the pleasant memory of spicy malt behind - comforting and friendly as it disappears.

I love the idea of a Halloween Ale without spices. This beer conjures up scenes of fallen autumn leaves swirling in a cold breeze, freshly turned black soil destined for a hard winter freeze, spicy toast flavor like wood fired stoves mingling with a damp rain. Halloween in New England, indeed.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 21:04:24 | More by neophilus

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Deep, dark amber--on the brownish side. Appears clear. Good lumpy and lasting head. Slippery lace.

Classic English caramel/toffee aroma. Very appealing. Very low hop.

Rich, full caramel flavor. It's sweet but there's enough hop to keep this from being coy. Full bodied and below average carbonation. The aftertaste is more bitter than the taste, but the sweetness remains. Toffee-ish.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 22:40:13 | More by smcolw

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From a personal perspective I wasn't able to pick up on much of the autumn flavors like I expected in this beer. The seemed to be just like any other ESB to me. With that being said the beer pours with a nice healthy amber color with an off white head. The smells I was hoping for would be spices and just got malts. The taste goes along for the same ride as the aroma. The beer itself wasn't bad at all, I just feel that for an Autumn brew it should have some additional spices thrown into the mix and what not. As a regular EBS this beer is fine, this just wasn't what I had hoped for.

Revised review: I'm not sure what happened the last time but I found the flavor to be much better this time around. It's got a spicy caramel flavor to it with a creamy medium body. Overall I think this beer is pretty good the second time around.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 22:58:01 | More by Knapp85

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Initially confused by the name Halloween Ale and subsequently confused by its listing as an ESB... Pours a rusty amber color with minimal head and lacing. Scent is a light touch of buttery caramel, earthy and herbally hop notes, light musty and damp earth, a bit of watery fruit and a faint kiss of peppery spice. Taste follows scent, faintly bitter with a definite presence of english hops its star attraction, the apple fruitiness throws the taste off a touch. Lighter side of medium bodied, smooth and maybe a touch to caramelly. A decent brew, but nothing stands out.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2011 13:22:45 | More by rfgetz

stonermouse

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Sam Adams glass.

Pours a very pretty and bright auburn- nice fall-like color here. Slight film of suds at the top, with little lacing and moderate carb.

A bit of an earthy aroma, yet clean and bright. A mellow, malty brew awaits.

The flavor has a rye-like bite to it, but is very clean and crisp. It cleans up nicely, but leaves a bit of an oniony flavor behind. Tangy and bright overall.

Mouthfeel is solid. It's not too sticky, and the flavors come and go quickly.

Decent brew here, although the autumn color is really the nicest part.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 01:39:17 | More by stonermouse

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a mug, the beer is a vibrant, rich ruby coloring that starts with a thin, quarter-inch head of off-white, foamy, froth that quickly settles into a ring. The nose is rich with crystal malt, and there is a slight grain richness to it, also. The beer is light and crisp in mouth, and the flavors are a roasted caramel sweetness and bitter bite of hops at the end. The light body and increased carbonation makes the end flavors sharp and clean, leaving an aftertaste of rich nut and caramel. The finish is neat and quick, with a slight tang left bouncing around the palate. Decent brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 23:37:07 | More by GarthDanielson

57md

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours brown with some orange hue. There was about a finger of light tan head that dissipated quickly. There is the light smell of caramel along with a whiff of alcohol (which is a surprise considering the ABV is not terribly high). The taste has nuts, bread and caramel in it with a slight alcohol finish (not unpleasant or cidery at all). This is a solid brew, but I'd be more apt to call it an aggressive brown ale, not an ESB.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 02:30:18 | More by 57md

Doshkin

Maine

3.53/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

had this from a 12 oz, 22 oz, and on tap

a - deep copper, mild and consistent lacing

s - pretty mild spiced earthy smell

t - matches the smell. bitter with mild spices. mild lingering bite

m - sharp bubbly mouthfeel to start, flavors quickly mellow out and spread over the tongue and the finish is clean

o - i've had this brew plenty of times. i recommend the 22 oz the most. for some reason it never ends up coming out as good on tap, which i know is odd. maybe i'm just unlucky.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2011 02:17:18 | More by Doshkin

tzieser

Arizona

4.05/5  rDev +6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

a: pours a dark amber color with a pretty thick white head. the beer itself looks cool, but the label...well, don't get me started. i used to think the old label art was pretty cool looking. it reminded me of what halloween used to be. this new one though, looks like it was made in Photoshop in about an hour. i typically dont care about art on the beer, but this new one sucks compared to what they had. gotta take a point off for that.

s: sweet, malty aroma with a subtle grassy hop note. nothing crazy here, but its good.

t: sweet, bready malts quickly balanced by mild earthy hop bitterness. well balanced yet has a nice sweet character to it that kind of reminds me of candy corn. i like the yeast they used. adds a very unique aspect to the beer.

m: good mouthfeel.

i reviewed this before, but it seemed to have disappeared. i look forward to getting this beer every year. very drinkable. recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 18:22:56 | More by tzieser

Bendurgin

Maine

3.63/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass. This pours amber with about an inch of biege head that retains nicely leaving some sticky lace.

Toffee and caramel in the aroma with a bit of toast and some ripe fruit in the background. Lots of malt on the pallet with a smokey caramel flavor. A little bit of soft floral hops in the background.

The body is medium and the carbonation is soft. Gives off a lingering sweetness on the back of the tongue. Overall not to bad. I tend to grab a sixer of this at some point in the season.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 18:25:12 | More by Bendurgin