Reviewed from a recent stop last summer..never got around to the review..got a tour of the brewing operation on site and it was small to say the least..wasn’t really impressed with any of the offerings I tried..clearly there are other places far superior in the area..didn’t eat but the food didn’t seem that inventive as well..

I realize that Gritty’s ain’t what it used to be...but c’mon...these are the guys that started it all in New England. How many people realize this was the first brewpub in New England? More important for me...this is the place I stumbled into quite by accident in 1989 on the way to Sunday River for some skiing. I was actually looking for a Bud (go figure!). When they sad..."sorry no Bud’s...we make our own here"...I remember thinking "this can’t be good" I definitely remember the beers tasting strong to my palate at the time. In case you haven’t picked up on it by now...this was my fist brewpub/microbrewery visit (again quite by accident). Twenty-four years later I still look back on Gritty’s as the place...for me at least...where the passion for craftbrews all started. Yes I’ve been back...and yes it’s no longer as good as places that have followed (especially Novare Res)...but it still deserves a higher rating than it’s getting. Just my opinion anyway...

Right by the harbour front in Portland. They only serve their own brews which were pretty average. Visited at lunchtime and had fish and chips in a basket (crisps of course - but this being on my first visit to the US didn’t realise this !!!). Tasty fish though. Service to the table was fine. Ok place, good location but not really worth seeking out.

Not a huge fan of their lackluster brews... however Ive always been satisfied with their blackfly stout and would suggest buying it by the 22oz rather than the sixpack... Anyhow the bar is a mob scene on any weekend night and if your into pushing through knuckleheads to enjoy uninspired beers... If you do find yourself headed there try the downstairs bar it usually a little quieter in the early evening hours. The food... standard pub style.

I have to say, I am not a fan of Gritty’s beer at all. The Portland restaurant is all right if you manage to get in when it is not completely packed. I generally avoid this place on the weekends. The food is decent though. Service is a little hit-or-miss.

The food is decent, but the beer just isn’t that good. A lot of people in the area love Gritty’s, but their beer is just not for me. This place gets overwhelmingly crowded sometimes.

August 2011. Right in the middle of Portland’s entertainment district, Gritty’s is indeed a bit gritty. With the feel of an old neighborhood pub, the place was rockin’ on a mid-week afternoon. The menu looked to be standard American publican fare (didn’t choose to eat), and the beer list was well populated with a variety of Gritty’s offerings.

Gritty McDuff’s is sandwiched between Fore Street and Wharf Street, an old cobblestone alley kind of street. Wish we would have seen that side first and we could have had a table outside or at the basement bar. The upstairs is wood-and-brick lined, with 3 rooms. 6 beers were on tap, including 1 cider, and 2 were on cask. Beers were not bad. The service was friendly overall. We only shared some chips and they were okay. Not anything amazing, but worth a stop if you’re in Portland for a few days and can’t beat the location.

Located in downtown Portland, just off the harbor. They have expanded from the original many years ago and now have a fairly large seating area. The most charm is in the original bar area upstairs. The bar is topped in copper, which is quite nice. Lots of exposed brick in this old building, which ads to the charm. The food is fairly standard bar fare, yet there is local flavor to it. Lobster is available in some of the dishes. I had some popcorn shrimp for lunch which were good. My friend had a Reuben which he liked. I have been on other occasions and have always had good food. The beers are decent enough, but not spectacular. It seems as if the bottle versions (contract brewed) aren’t quite as good as the ones brewed on the premises. Definitely worth the trip.

located in the heart of portland. combination of families, people on blind dates, old drunk locals, other tourists. lots of wood. some nude guy and girl beer focused paintings on the wall. attentive waitress. mediocre beer. seven dollars for 7 beer sampler. worth the stop if in the area with some extra time and want some ticks.