Gritty McDuff's (Portland)

Maine's Original Brewpub

Its been twenty years since Gritty's became Maine's first brewpub back in 1988. Over those two decades, its become a familiar Maine drinking institution. The Gritty's in the Old Port is a great example of what a brewpub should be. Small working brewery (7-barrel), mug club, blue collar and white collar blending together, interior of wood and exposed brick and, of course, a very casual atmosphere. 

Gritty's is a perfect place to meet up with people. Its location right on Fore St. is hard to miss and the masses converge here on the weekends as well as the weeknights (especially on Tueday when the mug club allows members to drink 20 ouncers for only two bucks!). This past week I met up with some other beer geeks at Gritty's for the inaugural meeting of the Maine Beer Writers' Guild. It was a great place to start.

Ben Low, author of the Gritty's Brewer's Blog, and member of the Guild showed us around the brewery in the basement and gave us a sneak peak of his latest creation, a "Rye PA". It should be pouring in the next ten days and sounds like it will be a great beer. I look forward to more one offs like the Rye PA. If you are around the Portland area stop in and help drink it all so Ben get creative again soon!

Luckily, Gritty's still had some of their IRA (Irish Red Ale) on nitro tap. That is a ridiculously smooth drinking beer! Its an interesting style to pour on nitro and it works. The creaminess of the head and slight bitterness go really well go together. Along with the IRA we drained copious amounts of the Black Fly Stout, Best Brown and Best Bitter. Good times were had by all and lots of geeky beer stuff was discussed. 

Gritty's operates two other brewpubs, one in Freeport and the other in Auburn. Along with the great beers on draught at all three locations, you can also find it in bottles and those huge tappable keg/cans. Try their Scottish Style Ale, its nice and malty with a dry hop finish. Its a great seasonal!

BREWERY FACTS:

Name: Gritty McDuff's Brewpub

Location: Portland, Maine, USA

Since: 1988

Ben Low's "Rye PA" in the open fermenter