Gritty McDuff's Christmas Ale Beer Review

Gritty's McDuff's Christmas Ale

Review Date 11/30/2001

Try? Re-buy?

It just wouldn't be Christmas for me without a trip to Gritty's in Portland for their Christmas Ale. Of course, in July I'd have a long wait to get a pint of that beer, but fortunately I have a bottle stashed in the beer fridge for just this occasion. Gritty McDuff's is a brewpub, but fortunately you can buy their beers in 12 and 22 ounce bottles to take with you.

During the Christmas season of 1998, I took notes on the beer at the pub:

Christmas Ale is a deep ruby red colored ESB. It is not a spiced beer, but you'll get a taste of the holidays in every sip. Rich and malty with lots of dextrin body and a slightly burnt-sugary character as well as a delightful Ringwood butteriness and alcohol warmth, this is a beer for a cold winter evening's sipping. Alcohol weighs in at 6.2% by volume, malts are Crystal and Pale with some roasted malt as well, hops used are Clusters, Saaz, Styrian Goldings, and Yakima Goldings.

I am sipping a 22 ounce bottle as I type. Even after six months, this beer is still rich and malty but has mellowed a bit, the crisp candyish character being less evident. The Ringwood yeast character has become more apparent too.

I love sipping this beer in the pub with an order of Shepherd's Pie, when it's fresh the crisp rich character would go very well with sweet and sour dishes.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

(G)=Growler

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