Gritty McDuff's Halloween Ale

Halloween Ale

 

Gritty McDuff's in Portland, Maine, United States 🇺🇸

  Bitter - ESB / Strong Bitter Regular
Score
6.50
ABV: 6.0% IBU: 45 Ticks: 16
Technically speaking, this ale can be described as an Extra Special Bitter. What that really means is that more of everything that goes into our bitter is added to the Halloween Ale -- more imported barley and more fresh Goldings hops from East Kent in England. This strong ale is also given some extra time in the conditioning tank, allowing it to mellow considerably.
 

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7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Bottled. A way station on the way to porterville. Thick dark pour, nice malrs and pretty mild bitter. Good.

Tried from Bottle on 20 May 2025 at 01:05


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

LSAT Freedom Trip #51. Keg at the Auburn location. Clear dark amber, medium sized fizzy off-white head, good retention. Aroma of toffee, caramel, spicy hops. The taste is toffee, caramel, dark fruit. Medium bodied, moderate carbonation.

Tried on 05 Oct 2015 at 18:15


6.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Tap at Becky’s Diner. It pours clear deep red - brown with a small white head. The nose is toasty, bitter - sweet, caramel, pie and wood. The taste is bitter - sweet, woody, dark caramel, leather, soft pumpkin pie, toasty brown sugar and leather with a dry finish. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Quite a nice bitter - sweet balance. Not too shabby.

Tried from Draft on 23 Sep 2015 at 18:16


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle from Harvest Market Pours a deep amber/copper color with a good sized off white head that persists for quite a while. Aromas of rich caramel malt with a bit of a mineral/sulfur edge, light earthy hop aroma. The flavor is rich caramelized malt sugars with lots of toffee. Light fruit, earthy hop, light mineral flavor. Medium body moderate carbonation. Decent brew.

Tried from Bottle on 12 Dec 2014 at 20:11


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Reviewed from notes.
The appearance was 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.
The smell had slight caramel and apples with a bit of a woody yeast and earthy hops to it too.
The taste was sweet through caramel, light ginger, and apples, mainly an cooked apple aftertaste, hops once the beer warms a bit.
On the palate, it sat at/about a medium, sessionable, yeasty finish with some light hops in that.
Overall, full-flavored beer that I used to drink when I lived in Maine.

Tried on 16 Apr 2014 at 10:50


7.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

6-pack brought back from the States by my GF. Pours a slightly hazy deep amber colour with a big creamy warm cap that creates a thick foam over the brew that sticks by, and to the glass. Hoppy nose with roasted and caramel malts, and hints of spices, nuts and alcohol. This last one is not so much in the mouthfeel, but well-balanced, with mild bitterness over the malts. Pretty good ESB with that North American feel to it (more hop than English ones). Wish there were a bit more spices in the taste, as this is called "Halloween Ale". Great session.

Tried from Can on 07 Mar 2013 at 17:13


3.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 2 | Overall - 2

Deep brown body with a thin tan head - not looking like many ESBs i’ve ever seen. Aroma of stale malt, a bit past fresh hops, some cardboard, yeast and not much else - perhaps caramel and nuts - not so good. Medium-bodied; Super pungent nutty flavour with a lot of hops, a lot of nuts and way way way too much bitterness tasting like permanent marker. Aftertaste is earthy, dirty, pungent and a bit too overpowering - not so good, really. Overall, a pretty poor offering, not worth trying and definitely not worth spending a lot of money on. I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased from Oliver’s Beverage in Albany, New York on 18-November-2011 for US$ 2.65 sampled at home in Washington on 20-November-2011.

Tried from Bottle on 20 Nov 2011 at 23:25


6.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

A translucent dark amber alew tih a thin lacing off white head. In aroma, sweet berries and butterscotch, some Kool Aid powder, cloying. In mouth, a nutty and roasted malt with smooth British hops, medium bodied. On tap at Sunset Grill, Oct. 8 2011.

Tried from Draft on 16 Oct 2011 at 05:03


7
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

tap at Portland location - This brew has an aroma of caramel and pumpkin pie spices. The flavor is sweet with apparent though not overly strong pumpkin spice. There’s some lingering hops similar in flavor to some of their other beers. Good brew.

Tried from Draft on 10 Oct 2011 at 20:32


7.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

12 oz bottle. Used a lager glass. Dark mahogany color, small white head. Nose of caramel and spice. I recommend getting this on draft or 22 oz bottle. NOT the 12 oz… big difference for sure. The flavors are malty with a distinct hop bitterness. The bitterness and spice mingles well together. I’ve rated most of Gritty’s brews, this is the best offering without question. Get this on draft, you will not be disappointed.

Tried from Bottle on 25 Sep 2011 at 11:47