Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter - Great Lakes Brewing Company

ColdPoncho

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

First ever growler for me. Moderately exciting.

A - It's not opaque, but it's got a really beautiful deep red/brown color with head that never goes away and some of the nicest lacing I've seen from a not very hoppy beer.

S - No messing around here, just good roasted malts and a bit of chocolate and coffee.

T - It's light and full all at the same time, sweet and dry. It's really lovely tasting. It has the malt sweetness to it that you need, but it's not a sugar bomb. It's like toasted coffee bread in a glass...or something. Basically, this is the best porter I've ever had and can possibly imagine.

M - Fine feeling beer. Not too heavy, not particularly smooth or creamy, though. It's fine, but nothing to write home about.

D - Well, I'm almost done with this growler, and kind of wish i had more. Under 6% ABV, tasty, not too heavy. It's really fantastic. This beer stands the test of time. From the first time I sipped it to now, this remains one of my favorite beers and by being nearly perfect in every way, it holds up to every beer I've ever had.

Serving type: growler

12-05-2010 02:47:36 | More by ColdPoncho

beerman207

Kentucky

4.45/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark as night. Great 2 finger head left behind which dissipates to a lacing that rivals the best of stouts. Wow.

S: This thing smells of smoke, caramel, coffee, malt, and chocolate. Amazing

T: The taste is malt, chocolate, smoke, and coffee.

M: The mouthfeel is so creamy and rich. For a porter, this is quite thick in my opinion. The draft style of this beer is amazing.

D: I am almost 3/4 of the way through a growler and I wish I had more. What an amazing beer!

Serving type: growler

03-07-2010 03:46:22 | More by beerman207

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark ruby-tinged sable that is somewhat translucent with a decent pale tan head. Aroma is strong and smoky, mainly of fine roast coffee. Flavor is like a fine mocha, slightly sweet and with a firm molasses undertone. Texture is smooth, tingly and edgy. Definitely worthy.

Serving type: growler

03-06-2010 22:50:02 | More by Cyberkedi

TheTrevor

New York

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured a very dark brown with a barely perceptible auburn tinge and a small dark head. The smell is mostly some deeply roasted malts with some melted chocolate and caramel notes. The taste starts off with some molasses that gives way to some mocha while avoiding some of the bitterness normally inherent in the style and making for a lighter beer than you would expect from the look of the beer. The mouthfeel is satisfyingly thick and chewy with a moderate amount of carbonation. This is a great version of the style that doesn't necessarily stick to the strict formula but still manages to maintain enough hallmarks of the style to be a good interpretation of it.

Serving type: growler

08-17-2009 02:15:59 | More by TheTrevor

Sleepisforthewik

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A- Poured dark with a thumb's width head. Head thins out to a layer of bubbles on top.

S- Smells of roasted malts with what I detect as some hops; the hops smell I feel is subtle.

T- Roasted Barley, with a slight coffee flavor. There is a slight hint of hops on the back of the tongue for a fleeting second.

M- I would call it thin, but it compliments the taste so that it doesn't feel like I am chewing on chocolate syrup.

D- I would pick up a growler of this whenever possible.

Serving type: growler

02-14-2009 18:56:56 | More by Sleepisforthewik

d0ggnate

California

4.43/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A huge thanks to pwoods for sending me this tasty brew in GATM 2008. Damn this one is tasty!

A: Poured with a watery/light brown appearance into glass to become a rich milk chocolate brown color. A solid two-finger head sat atop my glass, but faded at a decent rate to nothing but an island of bubbles in the middle and a ring around the glass.
S: A nice spice aroma, nutmeg, cinnamon and a bit of cocoa popped out at me. With a deeper whiff, I find a little coffee and roasty toasty familiar smell.
T: Wow! This one is much more rich in flavor than I thought it would be. Roasted coffee and chocolate continues, but isn't as viscous as a stout might present. Very palatable and flavor-rich.
M: A watery charcteristic, but no loss of flavor or body here. A nice presentation of the style.
D: Soooo smooth and very drinkable. Flavor profile is incredible. I could see a wide variety of beer drinkers, from geek to guzzler, enjoying this one.

Serving type: growler

11-13-2008 03:14:15 | More by d0ggnate

orfeu

New Mexico

4.68/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

1//2 gallon growler filled at Pizza Plant Walker Center in Williamsville. Deep dark transparent blood red, crowning thick onion-skin froth. Roasted coffee and burnt sugar aromas, with a pale scent of dates. Perfect baker's chocolate and roasted espresso flavors wash over the palate at first with earthy, bitter hops clipping through the middle. Mild citrusy hops show at the finish and a lovely dark-roasted coffee taste lingers afterwards. Smooth mouthfeel; moderate carbonation and medium body. Utterly drinkable; my growler will be empty in no time. Outstanding porter.

Serving type: growler

03-12-2006 02:47:54 | More by orfeu

maggotbrain

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I picked up a growler of this at the Party Source in Bellevue Kentucky. This is the only liquor store I know of where you can buy growlers of craft beer from a tap setup. A cool concept and something I'd like to see more frequently.

Being from Cleveland, the Edmund Fitzgerald is one of my favorite beers, and one that I've had on a number of occasions.

The beer poured essentially black with a bit of ruby showing at the bottom of the glass. A thick tan head formed and receded to form a thin cap. As I drank the beer a fine latticework of lace was left on the glass. Truly a looker.

The aroma reminded me a bit of powdered cocoa.

The taste was wonderful: bittersweet chocolate and coffee intertwined with hoppiness that is present, but doesn't over assert itself. Finish was dry, with a pleasant charred bitterness.

The mounthfeel was excellent. The body was medium, just what I would expect for the style, with a moderate level of carbonation.

The drinkability of this beer was unbelievable. I thought the balanced flavor was perfect and my glass was empty in no time.

Serving type: growler

06-02-2005 00:17:54 | More by maggotbrain

gjoker321

Florida

4.05/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Black brown with brown and crimson highlights. Tan head of two finders with linger. Very subtle, fine, legs.
Aroma: Earthy roasty aroma upfront with a very subtle maltiness following. Possible hoppiness from earthy/woody hoppy aromas present.
Flavor: Roasty/charcoal up front. Malty sweetness WELL balanced by acidity of dark malts. Sweet and sour pungent hop flavor in finish. Subtle/earthy/cloying hop flavor in finish For the roast flavors there it is fantastic but could use more depth. Perhaps layering of some of the dark malts. No diacetyl. Light dark esters of cherry and grape that are a secondary note to the malt flavors.
Mouthfeel: Medium heavy to medium mouth feel with moderate carbonation. Light acidity on the tongue for overall balance.
Overall: A very pleasant classic example of a robust porter VERY subtly lacking of complexity. Could use more variety of roast flavors thought that is being nitty and picky. I couldn't ask for a better example of what fresh, quality ingredients can do! I will take a six pack of this home any night that I need to quietly contemplate anything.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:31:07 | More by gjoker321

Roman5150

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

bottle into tulip

appearance: pitch black, 2 finger slight off white head, lots of lacing

smell: strong vanilla, dark coffee, roasted malts, resin/earthiness, milk chocolate

taste: the smoothest porter i've had, heavy notes of milk chocolate, hardly any bitterness, it has more of a creamy coffee taste rather than a black coffee. Smooth malt backbone, not very much smokiness. So well balanced and drinkable, once it warms a little it starts to bring out the milk chocolate taste, almost tastes like a chocolate milk shake with some added coffee flavor!

mouthfeel: full and average carbonation, very thick creamy feel

overall: Did a blind test with Founder's Porter, Bells Porter, and Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald. This slightly nudged the Founders (which was a lot smokier and hoppier), as it was just smooth as you can get in a porter. Highly drinkable, perhaps my favorite porter. This is a well crafted amazing beer, too bad it's from Ohio, I wish I could call this a Michigan beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 03:13:03 | More by Roman5150

thlayli87

New Jersey

3.91/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - Dark brown with two fingers of foamy tan head. Good lacing.

S - Roasted malt, a hint of sweetness, and lingering coffee aroma.

T - Mocha, sweetness, and a smooth finish. Good balance of sweet and roasty flavors.

M - Smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Medium body. Very satisfying.

O - Smooth and extremely drinkable. Good flavor profile. A solid porter that I will definitely enjoy again.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 23:28:29 | More by thlayli87

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle into pint glass.

A - Black as night with a thin tan head.

S - Light milk chocolate, coffee, and roasted burnt malt.

T - A perfect blend of roasted malt, chocolate, black coffee, and mild earthy hops. Finishes bittersweet with a slight smokiness and toasted malt flavor.

M - Smooth and creamy, medium bodied. Dry finish.

O - A really well-done rendition of a basic porter. Good balance, drinkability, and malt profile.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 22:58:21 | More by mooseo

magictacosinus

California

4.59/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a shaker pint at the Map Room in Chicago.

Pours a darkish, near opaque color that reveals slight reddish transparency when held against the light. Not much of a head to speak of, although carbonation is still decent and attempts to hold up well here. There's some dripped, slightly cobwebby lacing that goes all around the glass's edges, which adds slight character. Looks like a classic American porter all around.

Whoa! The aroma completely caught me by surprise here. Very robust, full bodied, and juicy unlike any porter I've had to date. Chocolate nibs, cracked roasted barley, vanilla, cream, and berries (blueberries in particular). Not much coffee is present here, to my surprise. As this warms up, the chocolate aspects become far more accentuated and meld with the vanilla notes in almost a dessert-like manner. Luckily, the barley flavor and slight hoppy bitterness keep this from becoming too sweet, and provide a combination of a bready, toasted character combined with all of the chocolate and dark fruitiness.

The flavor only makes things better, really. The chocolate is ever more present (think semi-dark), and combined with the vanilla and big dark berry flavors, it almost resembles the texture and thickness of a cake or brownie of sorts. There is finally some coffee that creeps in towards the finish, which adds a little bitterness to the otherwise well atoned flavors that range back and forth from dessert sweetness to the cracked barley character. Hops lie beneath all of these flavors, but they are by no means muted – there's a subtle hint of grassiness at the finish here. However, the chocolate and vanilla creaminess are the really the highlights here, and really in ways I haven't had an American porter before.

This is awesome! I should have invested in a 6-pack of this during my stay, but I had too many beers I wanted to try. This is exactly like a hearty stout without being nearly as heavy on body or senses, yet still tenfold in flavor. Not sure how they did it, but I think the well rounded carbonation, as well as the excellent ingredients they're using here, helped it out. While I'm glad I get stuff like, say, Black Butte Porter out West, I want more of these sometime!

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2013 04:21:50 | More by magictacosinus

downeyj4

Michigan

5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Overall, the best Porter out there. It has a blackish/caramel brown color. It smells like roasted malts with a hint of chocolate. There is a perfect combination of roastiness, maltiness, and bitterness. It isn't too thick and isn't going to knock you off your feet. This is the definition of a Porter to me. It makes it really tough on everything else that I try.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 03:59:31 | More by downeyj4

sharlie

Michigan

3.81/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very nice Porter. The appearance is a dark brown similar to molasses. The head on the beer is also similar to molasses in the sense that it is a thick, dark and tan head. The beer has a very natural and the taste has traces of dark chocolate and coffee which are very apparent. Uniquely this beer has good carbonation for being such a dark beer but it compliments it well.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 11:19:39 | More by sharlie

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A- pours dark brown-almost black with just a bit if light seeping through, creamy light-tan head that retains long after the pour with a ring of lace sticking to the sides.

S- grainy roasted malts with a bit of cocoa and coffee, slight hop bitterness

T- roasted & toasted malty goodness, smoky firewood with a bit of charcoal, mid-palate transitions into silky sweet chocolate flavors with a touch of caramel, the finish is smoky and dry-yet-sweet with rich chocolate on the linger. The smokiness provides almost a dried meat flavor. Flavors are so complex, yet just enough hop to balance it out. The smoky flavors sit on the palate long after consumption.

M- medium body with low carbonation, velvety smooth mouthfeel leads to a silky finish

O- be of the best examples of an American porter out there. Smoky, chocolaty and silky smooth. This is probably my favorite everyday porter and one that I'm glad I can get very easily.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 02:40:07 | More by Treyliff

thedoubler55

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Black in color but when light hits it turns into a dark brown, almost no head at all on this one, and just a slight lacing around the glass.

S: Lots of malt up front, slight hint of caramel, and some brown sugar as well, very good nose.

T: Up front is some nice caraemel, the malts even it out and the hops add a warming to the tailend, some roasted coffee as well in there.

M: Medium bodied and a good amount of carbonation.

O: A very good porter, was not expecting this after trying the IPA from this brewery, very imprressed, solid and well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 20:38:43 | More by thedoubler55

Catherine8189

Michigan

4.06/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A great Porter! Appearance- dark, rich molasses brown. The beer has a thick, dark and tan head that adds to the overall experience of the exceptional beer. The naturalness of the beer comes through very clearly and dark chocolate and coffee noted are very apparent. The carbonation is lively for such a thick, heavier brew, but compliments the beer well.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 01:07:21 | More by Catherine8189

wac9

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

frist taste a smoky robust dark and bittersweet and i dont like the frist taste but after that it blends into a wonderful smmoth dark beer that lives up expections loving the all the beer the whole dark beer its thats good enjot it tasty dark chocolate that warms you all over love it drink it remember it its a keeper

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 01:40:05 | More by wac9

gr0g

New Jersey

4.21/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pitch black in color, capped with a frothy, creamy head. Above-average head retention and lace formation. Strong note of coffee grinds on the nose. Some nice char, too, plus a bit of cocoa powder. Really fantastic aroma all around.

Flavor profile is dry, roasty, and solidly bitter. Lots of toasted grain. Citric hop presence lurks beneath the surface, probably Cascade. Texture is smooth but with a slightly prickly carbonation.

A very sessionable dark beer than still retains plenty of character. I'll definitely be coming back to this again.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 01:27:26 | More by gr0g

CardiacNP

Louisiana

4.66/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Edmond Fitzgerald porter from Great Lakes Brewery in Cleveland OH (check out the great song from Gordon Lightfoot)

Aroma nice roasty malt. Chocolate and slight coffee

Appearance dark brown/black with a beige tight creamy 1 finger head

Taste smooth malty chocolate with a slight bitter coffee finish. Mild bittering hops

Mouth feel Smooth creamy slight to moderate combination. Mild dry finish

Overall a very solid beer. It has won Gold medals at the great American beer festival and is well deserved. I would drink it again

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 12:11:04 | More by CardiacNP

Ego

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

heard good things about this brew for some time, finally stumbled into a bottle this evening...

eyes...
pretty black but not nearly opaque, light can navigate its way through and there are even some ruby edges that haunt this lot like some sort of beer aura, 2 full fingers of off white head rise up and quickly fizzle down to a more manageable 1 finger size, beautiful lacing as there are just perfect waves of micro bubbles making tide lines on the edges of the glass as well as crashing undulations of foam as this beaut is tilted towards my gaping maw. this is a solid looker

nose...
a white ceramic coffee cup, sitting on a glass table, with almost drawn lines of vented steam emanating from the surface, coffee just hot enough to be right and not hot enough to burn your lap, slight roasty smoke, some chocolate darting in and out playing in the background like a mischievous dog, some chalky dryness... totally in balance, maybe if this was a whiff stronger it might be perfect, but man this is really good

taste etc...
follows the nose, drinks a bit light for my taste, the carbonation is a touch too fizzy as well, the roasty coffee flavor is nice here, it lingers and lasts throughout the sip and beyond, good chocolate notes, some subtle bitter bite in the back compliments the overall flavor, really easy drinking.

verdict?
a nice tasting porter, pretty light but still good flavor, a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 03:55:13 | More by Ego

videofrog

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a nonic pint glass. Enjoy by date of 6/19/13.
Thanks to dvmin98 for this one.

A: Black with the faintest ruby highlights on the edges when held to the light. Fluffy mocha head that settles into a thin rim that makes it all the way down the glass leaving sticky, spiderweb lacing down the sides.

S: Roasted barley, chocolate, sweet malts. Catching some herbal hops in the background.

T: Dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee. Sweetness in the nose tastes of caramel. Slight citrus in the finish.

M: Medium-bodied, very creamy. Carbonation is spot-on for a porter.

O: Really wish this was available in TX. I have one other bottle and need to do a side-by-side with Black Butte. Great beer, textbook example of an American Porter.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 03:26:49 | More by videofrog

lunarbrew

Wisconsin

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Pretty pathetic pour by the bartender, which kind of effected the appearance. Besides that...

About .5 fingers of creamy off-white head. Beer is pretty dark brown (I'm guessing about 27 SRM) with red shining through in the light. It's not particularly viscus. The head died pretty quick and left a blanket on the beer.

Smells great. Not a huge nose, but I get roasted notes all over the place. Dark roasted (but not bitter) barley, dark roasted coffee, a little bit of vanilla, a little bit of roasted chestnut, a little bit of smoke. Very delicate.

I taste that roastiness too! A rather dry flavor. Roast malt, coffee, and some nuttiness. A little hoppiness is left on the tongue after each sip. Extremely well balanced and very relaxing to drink.

Medium-full body, creamy, and goes down very smooth. A very good example of a porter.

GL does it right. Probably my favorite in their lineup, as well as my favorite porter to date.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2013 22:37:17 | More by lunarbrew

barczar

Kentucky

4.21/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours an opaque deep brown with amber highlights and a frothy half inch tan head that slowly dissipates, leaving sheets of lacing.

Chocolate, roast malt, and coffee grounds dominate the initial aroma. Notes of nuttiness, caramel sweetness, and citrus add complexity, with a hint of resin emerging late.

Flavor reveals more floral hop character at first, which ushers in chocolate and is eventually overpowered by deeply roasted malt and coffee. There's an underpinning of subtle dark fruit. The finish is somewhat bitter and fairly nutty. It's borderline acrid, but the nutty character saves the experience.

Body is a touch full, fairly creamy, with low carbonation and a hint of an acrid bite.

I didn't recall as much floral hop character, but it makes things interesting. The roast malt and coffee are kept in check fairly well. Would like a touch more chocolate. The underlying fruity notes are nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 03:26:51 | More by barczar