Craft brewer's "beerthday" event to take place December 21st in Portland

Maine craft brewer Gritty McDuff's Brewing Company (www.grittys.com ) has launched its 21st year of brewing award-winning beers by introducing its exceptional new anniversary beer: Gritty's "21 IPA."

Gritty's 21 IPA is currently available at beer retailers throughout Maine. Beginning in early 2009, the 21 IPA also will be available to bars, pubs, taverns, restaurants and beer retailers throughout the rest of New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Gritty's 21 IPA is a unique marriage of American hops, with a British body utilizing English 2-Row Pale Malts brewed in the India Pale Ale style. Significant amounts of Munich and Cara malts give the beer a rich, golden hue.

Brewed in small, 50-barrel batches, 56 pounds of Cascade hops are used in each batch. Both Willamette and Warrior hops are added at the finish to produce a beer which begins with a hoppy aroma and taste that lead to a sweet finish.

The beer has a specific gravity of 1069, an ABV of 6.8%, and an IBU of 60.

Gritty's 21 IPA debuted at the 2008 Maine Brewers Festival in early November, and earned rave reviews from attendees. In a setting that featured Maine's best beers from some of the state's most respected brewers, 21 IPA proved to be an instant crowd favorite: the Gritty's team ran through two kegs of 21 IPA at the one-day festival, and was the first beer of the day to run out.

"We're proud of the enthusiastic feedback we've received from our customers over the past 20 years," said Richard Pfeffer, Publican of Gritty McDuff's. "It has been a genuine privilege to brew hand-crafted beer for a growing number of beer-lovers. Our 21 IPA continues our Gritty's tradition of brewing beers that appeal to serious and casual beer fans alike."

Gritty McDuff's 21 IPA is now available in Hannaford supermarkets throughout Maine, as well as in a growing number of supermarkets, beer and wine shops, convenience stores, and other beer retailers in Maine. 21 IPA has a suggested retail price of $6.99 for four-12 ounce bottles.

Kegs of the 21 IPA will be available after Gritty's taps the first official keg of their 21 IPA at its Brew Pub in Portland, scheduled to take place during the company's festive "Beerthday" on Sunday, December 21st.