PORTLAND — On Friday, Dec. 20, Gritty McDuff ’s will celebrate its 25th anniversary in style.
Richard Pfeffer and Ed Stebbins will host an open house at Maine’s original brew pub on Fore Street in Portland starting at 4 p.m. From 4 until 6:30 p.m., there will be free appetizers, live music and a special “Silver Anniversary Ale” will be on tap. Later in the evening, The Jason Spooner Band will crank up the music so guests can dance and party on.
“We’re inviting everyone,” said Pfeffer. “Over the years Gritty’s has become part of the fabric of Maine. We want to see all our past employees, friends, people we do business with and the public to stop by to say hi, have a beer and start the holidays.”
Since 1988, Stebbins and Pfeffer, the founders of Gritty McDuff ’s, had two simple goals in mind: create a true, English-style pub serving fresh British-style ales and great food, while having fun doing it.
Gritty’s has become a bit of an institution in Maine. At least two generations of locals have been frequenting the pub and now tourists from all over the world stop in for a pint. Stebbins and Pfeffer have gained a couple more Maine brew pubs and their beers are distributed as far as New Jersey and Philadelphia.
“We had a lot of fun brewing the three other ‘Anniversary Ales’ we did earlier this year. Then we worked with the Vermont Pub and Brewing Company and with the Deschutes’ Brewing Company on two different collaboration brews for the class of 1988 breweries. But this final Silver Anniversary Ale is going to be something special,” said Brew Master Stebbins. “All I can say is it will be a very special handcrafted beer just for our anniversary party.”
Gritty McDuff ’s operates three brew pubs in Maine: Portland, Freeport and Auburn.
Its beers are available in a growing number of bars, restaurants, pubs, taverns, supermarkets, beer and wine shops, convenience stores, and other beer retailers in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
ONE IN FREEPORT: Gritty McDuff’s operates three brew pubs in Maine: Portland, Freeport and Auburn.
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