Gritty McDuff's Best Bitter

Best Bitter

 

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

  Bitter - Ordinary / Best Bitter Regular
Score
6.15
ABV: 5.0% IBU: 25 Ticks: 42
Best Bitter was the first beer we ever brewed, way back in 1988 at our Portland Brew Pub. This true English classic has been the anchor of our draft selection ever since.

Best Bitter is a copper-hued and well-balanced ale with real old world integrity. We use fine Yakima Golding hop flowers in the brewing of this beer for a fine dry finish that compliments the malty palate. The taste captures the freshness of a hand-drawn ale that goes right from the conditioning tank to your glass! Hops: Yakima Goldings
 

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

Cask, third pint. @Nottingham Camra Beer Festival, Nottingham (England). 09/10/2024 [#7.830 Global - #1.665 United States of America - #1 Gritty McDuffs (My brewery #388 from the States)] Pours copper with a bubbly white head. Aroma: chestnut, peppery malts and brown bread. Taste: toasted brown bread, mellow fruits and light toffee. Medium bitterness. Next one, please!

Tried from Cask on 05 Nov 2024 at 17:23


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

10/10/2024. Cask at Nottingham Beer & Cider Festival 2024. Pours clear dark amber with a small frothy off-white head. Good pour. Aroma is malty, toffee, biscuit, nut, toffee apple. Medium sweetness, light to moderate bitterness, touch tart. Medium body, smooth, soft carbonation. Drying finish. Liked this.

Tried from Cask on 13 Oct 2024 at 11:14


Beer tick image

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

Cask at Nottingham BF. Deep amber colour with a white head. Aroma and taste are malty caramel malty. Slight bitter. Medium body.

Tried from Cask on 10 Oct 2024 at 10:21


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

On tap at the brewery in Freeport. Pours clear copper with a small off-white head, light lacing. Sweet grains, dough, zesty. Ok

Tried from Draft on 09 May 2024 at 16:13


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Cask@The Great British Beer Festival 2022 (Days 1&2) - Sweet and toasted malty with some herbal twiggy hops, caramel and light toffee, biscuity malts, medium body, bitter hoppy and malty close. Ok. --- Beer merged from original tick of Best Bitter on 26 Mar 2025 at 11:39 - Score: 7. Original review text: Sweet and toasted malty with some herbal twiggy hops, caramel and light toffee, biscuity malts, medium body, bitter hoppy and malty close. Ok.

Tried from Cask on 04 Sep 2022 at 07:44


5.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Pours a rich reddish brown from a cask. Nice light malty aroma, slightly sweet. Good beer.

---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Tried from Cask on 20 Aug 2017 at 12:30


7.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

From old tasting notes. Amber orange color. Big creamy beige head. Soft malty nose. Is peppery and toasty. Chewy toasted malt flavor is spicy with a citrus hop finish. Well balanced.

Tried on 30 Apr 2017 at 20:17


5.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Cask at brewpub. Amber pour. Nose is faint caramel and cardboard. Tastes of caramel, earth, hops, floral, cardboard and sweet berry. mild palate.

Tried from Cask on 30 Sep 2016 at 20:18


6.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Cask at GBBF ’15, day 3, 13/08/15. Had this juan at the brew pub in ’05 pre RB days! Golden copper with a decent egg shell white covering. Nose is nutty, toffee, biscuit malt, fruit peel. Taste comprises mellow fruit, caramel, light spice, airy malt base, biscuit crumble. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a bitter bite. Decent enough bitter.

Tried from Cask on 21 Oct 2015 at 16:02


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

LSAT Freedom Trip #46. Keg at the Auburn location. Clear copper, thin foamy white head, good retention. Aroma of toasted malts, berries, floral hops, grain. The taste is toasted malts, caramel, mild hoppy finish. Medium bodied, low carbonation, drinkable.

Tried on 05 Oct 2015 at 17:48