Gritty's began as a brewpub in Portland, Maine, founded at 396 Fore Street in 1988 by Ed Stebbins and Richard Pfeffer.

[2] The Fore Street location is considered the first brewpub to open in Maine since Prohibition ended.

The company experienced a downturn in sales in the late 1990s, as did most craft breweries.

In 2011 Gritty's was awarded Restaurateur of the Year by the Maine Restaurant Association.

Gritty's ales have been repeat winners at the annual Real Ale Festival in Chicago and have also appeared as Featured International Selections at the Great British Beer Festival.