Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter - Great Lakes Brewing Company

NuclearSoAndSo

Ohio

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

Poured into a beer mug

Appearance- 4 finger beige head that sticks around pretty much all the way down. Almost entirely black with amber tones coming through.

Smell- I mostly noticed cocoa powder and fresh coffee grounds.

Taste- Fair amount of hops upfront subsiding into a mix of chocolate and coffee. And I do mean a mix; I couldn't really say one overpowered the other, the chocolate and coffee were equally present. Lingering, sort of bready aftertaste.

Mouthfeel- Thick body, medium carbonation; satisfying. Taste sticks around for a while.

Overall- A great beer, full-bodied and flavorful . I don't know if I could have more than a few of these at once, but I really like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 04:32:52 | More by NuclearSoAndSo

AC-Mivsek

Ohio

4.51/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a nice mahogany color. When held up to the light hints of red are visible. Creamy 2-finger khaki head, which leaves great lacing.

S- Smoky, Sugary (brown sugar), chocolatey, roasted coffee

T- Bready at first, then come the roasted malts and coffee taste. Sweet dark chocolate aftertaste with just a hint of hop bite.

M- Body is on the thick side. Carbonation is medium. Smooth/ velvety. Very good traditional porter feel.

O- This is an extremely well crafted porter. It looks just as good as it tastes. Great example of the style. My favorite GLBC beer. Definitely give it a try if you get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 01:27:06 | More by AC-Mivsek

Americanzero

Tennessee

4.4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a deep chocolate, almost black. Has reddish tones if held to light, but only slightly. Had about two and a half fingers of rich mocha head that dissipated slowly, and left fine lacing to the finish.

Aroma is underwhelming, but not bad. Easy coffee notes.

The taste is very good, really stoutlike. It has a clean start with a hint of bitter hops, middle is clean and mellow, with a roasted coffee finish. I think I could even find some chocolate notes at times throughout.

Across the tongue, it is really mellow as well. it has a bit of a bite, and a dry finish.

Overall, I was very pleased with this offering. Has good all around flavor, and drinks clean. Would certainly buy again!

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 23:17:53 | More by Americanzero

MadCat

New Jersey

4.48/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown, almost black, with a short brown head that dissipates quickly leaving some lacing

Smell: Coffee, chocolate, caramel, roasted malts

Taste: Caramel, chocolate, coffee, with a bitter hoppy finish. Very roasty malts

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body, medium carbonation, not as heavy as some full bodied stouts out there.

Overall: An excellent brew, probably one of the best examples of this style. The gold standard. My favorite brew from GLBC. Worth going out of my way for.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 01:36:18 | More by MadCat

GameFreac

Georgia

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

Got a 6 pack from Wino's in Bowling Green, KY.

Appearance: Pours a midnight black with a finger of a khaki head.

Smell: Smells of sweet chocolate, sugar, caramel, and roast.

Taste - Taste is amazing. Very sweet chocolatey porter with some coffee and roast on the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium mouthfeel. I like this one better cold.

Overall: One of my favorite beers ever. It stands out as a sweeter porter, which I like.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 17:13:39 | More by GameFreac

champ103

Texas

3.7/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark brown, nearly black color. Light ruby highlights around the edges. A two finger tan head forms. Tightly packed with fine bubbles rising. Rings of sticky lace left behind. This is a looker.
S: Roasted malt, toast, bread. Light chocolate and coffee. More dark fruits come through as this warms. As well as a metallic twang. A lingering bitter chocolate bite.
T: Follows the nose with big roasted and smokey malts. Baked bread, bitter chocolate, light coffee. Dark fruits of plums and cherries. Again, a metallic twang. Lingering chocolate bitterness.
M/D: A medium body and carbonation. Perfectly crisp, but smooth at the same time. Very easy to drink. I can enjoy several in a sitting without a problem.

I have had this several times. I always enjoy it. Though there is a metallic character that detracts just enough. Still I always pick some up when I get a chance, and something I recommend.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 22:59:48 | More by champ103

bigaltemple

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz. Bottle with Best By date of 12/15/12

A - Pours a very dark brown, almost black. Tan, creamy head builds easily with mild pour. Fairly solid cap remains throughout, providing some moderate lacing.

S - Toasted and smoky goodness. Bitter chocolate, and a very light hint of some coffee.

T/M - Darker, more of a roasted malt profile in the taste. The chocolate lends a slight creaminess. To me, it feels on the lighter side of medium-bodied. Crisp carbonation without being too prickly.

O - Very solid offering for the style. Although I'm not a huge porter fan, I found this to be quite enjoyable and highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 04:25:36 | More by bigaltemple

ClarkHimself

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a crazy dark ruby color, appearing jet black in my snifter unless held up to a light. Deliciously sticky toffee-colored head webs around the glass very well. Smells of roasted goodness... mostly coffee, little bit of coco, but nothing too crazy. Tastes... like a great porter! Slightly bitter coffee taste upfront with a lingering coco flavor on the back-end. Definitely has an above-average mouthfeel, though I like a bit more thickness and robustness in my porters and stouts.

Another standard (i.e. kick-ass) from GL. Could drink this all night in these colder months.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 00:15:32 | More by ClarkHimself

Optifron

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed from the bottle 11/16/2012

Appearance: Pours very dark brown. Edges show up to light. Thick, bit coarse tan head. Great lacing

Aroma: dark Chocolate, raisins, bit of coffee

Taste: roasted barley, but not astringent. Nicely balanced. Dark chocolate notes a little subdued compared to aroma. Smooth French roast coffee comes through.

Mouthfeel: Tiny tingling bubbles, and then an extremely smooth, wet feel, ending with some residual smooth coffee bitter. Not too thick. Really easy drinking

Overall: First sip I thought was a bit thin. Used to stouts. But now that I’ve had a few more, I think it's renewed a love in porters. Could put a lot of these away on a cold day.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 21:02:55 | More by Optifron

mattbk

New York

4.4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A personal favorite of mine for some time. First time I've had the chance to formally review.

A: Perfect 1/2" tan head, nearly opaque, very dark shade of brown, just a bit hazy. Nice lacing on the glass.
S: Hops and roast, maybe a bit of coffee too. Nice.
T: The thing about this beer is it's a perfect blend of roast and hops. The roast is mildly coffee; the hops are distincly earthy and piney. This is a refreshing beer too surprisingly, the hops are very bright and at the forefront. Not too bitter either, just a bit of light toffee sweetness. If anything, it could pop a bit more with roast flavors, but that's really splitting hairs.
M: Medium/medium-light; makes the beer very drinkable. No faults here.
O: A great beer, you can have several of these with no problems, not super interesting but no real issues. Very well balanced. Love Great Lakes, this might be my favorite that they make.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 01:59:03 | More by mattbk

fauxpunker

4.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured clean, dark brown. Opaque so it looks black. Poured with a fizzy, tan head that dispersed to nothing fairly quickly.
S: Malty. Some underlying caramel. No real hop presence to speak of.
T: While the caramel tones from the aroma are there, a nice roasted coffee quality becomes apparent. Roast, but without any real acrid bitterness. Hops balance out the finish with some flavor and dry bitterness. The parts all work together.
M: Full and well carbonated. At first glance, the carbonation gave the beer and head an almost cola-like appearance.
O: Solid porter. Very well balanced. Each piece leads into the next with nothing dominating. I can see this becoming a regular beer to keep on hand.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 02:37:54 | More by fauxpunker

TCMike

Minnesota

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

Produced a two finger beige head. Beer color is dark mahogany, (non-translucent). Lacing.
Aroma was of malts, dark chocolate, brown sugar.
The taste was similar, but with a hint of raisin, and hop bitterness. Medium mouth-feel, and somewhat low carbonation.
Easy drinking, and very good!!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 23:59:25 | More by TCMike

Johnnyjoe13

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap in my basement, one of the best 1/6 barrels I've had. Coffee, chocolate, solid. Great porter, and under rated in my mind. Smooth yet a good dark finish. Porters are becoming my standby on tap.
I've had others on tap, including Anderson, Firestone, etc., but this one still stands out to me.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2012 03:03:44 | More by Johnnyjoe13

cbeer88

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Tasted blindly courtesy of Blind BIF #7.

Appearance: The liquid flows out of the bottle in a darkish brown shade, but amasses into the cup in a very dark brown bordering on black. Head is about a finger and a half of tan. Lacing is decent.

Smell: Coffee and roasted malts pummel the nose. If I strain I think I can smell some faint hops.

Taste: Very bitter - intense coffee flavor and again, the roasted malts. Notes of chocolate and licorice. This guy is really on the astringent side of bitter coffee.

Mouthfeel: A little thin, especially for the style. Adequate carb levels.

Drinkability: Moderate to low - I don't mind one, but that astringency in the coffee is a little much for multiples.

Overall: This is a decent beer, but it's nothing to write home about. Seems like a run of the mill porter.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 02:35:26 | More by cbeer88

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on 2012-11-07 in Danville, KY

A - Opaque very dark brown with a 2-finger tan head and very good lacing.

S - Pretty rich semi-sweet chocolate, some coffee and roasted grain.

T - Chocolate, coffee, roasted grain, toffee, a bit of char and a touch of sweetness. Finishes with a full flavor and lingering roasted and hop bitterness. Good job.

M - Medium body and medium high carbonation. Not as thick as a Founders Breakfast Stout but firm enough to suit me.

O - I'd say this is my favorite from this brewery and equals Founders Porter.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 01:36:34 | More by Tucquan

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I've had this here and there several times over the years, just never reviewed it until now. It's a good one to revisit once in a while.
Dark brown pour, with a typically medium-sized tan head; decent retention and lacing. Caramel malts in the nose, moderately roasty, coffee and semi-sweet chocolate, earthy hops. Similar taste, roasty malts, coffee grounds, semi-sweet chocolate, distant dark fruit essence, earthy and piney hops giving a slight bitter edge. Body is about medium, carbonation is moderate, drinkability is decent. Overall a good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2012 06:43:46 | More by Rifugium

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.2/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: I was very surprised that it is more the brown then black. It is completely opaque with a 1 inch mocha head that stays around for a pretty long time.

S: There is lots of coffee upfront, but that fades into a creamy smell that ends with a slight node of dark chocolate. There is also some roasted malt in there i think.

T: Perhaps I mistakes the coffee up front as I can taste the bitterness but I don't get that full bodied coffee flavor that I was expecting. The dark chocolate is definitely present throughout that blends nicely with the roasted malt flavor, which i usually don't like but in this one I do. Not what i was expecting but I really like it.

M: The Mouthfeel is really smooth creamy and rich, but not too thick. The abv definitely allows this to go down way easier then most porters

O: I like this one, but i definitely like the thicker more robust porters better. Definitely worth a try glad i traded for it.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 02:13:36 | More by Pinknuggets

Vixie

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very deep ruby red with a tan head that sticks around for a bit. Really nice looking beer.

Strong smell to this one, it is sweet, in a candy like way, mainly like toffee and caramel. There's also a hint of coffee and chocolate in there.

Sweet and smokey. Caramel and toffee notes, bit of coffee and chocolate as well. Taste is very much like the smell. Has a bit of a hop bite at the end, giving it a bit of a bitter aftertaste.

Goes down full and smooth, with a little bite from the carbonation.

I would have to say this is the best porter I have tried. Nice balance of flavors, not too dry, not too bitter. There is a lot going on here, all of it good. Very drinkable, this will be my go to if I want a porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 00:47:30 | More by Vixie

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Clear dark red-brown with two-finger, off-white, creamy head that lasted several minutes. Pretty nice lacing.

S: Chocolate and roasted malt.

T: Moderate sweetness and light bitterness. Smoky with chocolate and roasted malt.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Smooth and slightly warm.

O: This is a pretty good porter. I think the aroma was the best quality - vibrant chocolate and roasted malt.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 00:44:06 | More by SolipsismalCat

Samp01

New Jersey

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

12oz bottle. Courtesy of mike67. Pours a deep dark reddish brown with a medium brown lasting creamy head. Aroma and Taste of rich dark roasted chocolate malt, some caramel and liquorice notes, and yeast with some bitter notes. Palate is a rich full body, slightly oily with good carbonation. Finish is of roasted caramel malt, dark cacao bitterness, some hops bitterness ending with some lingering dark chocolate notes. Overall a great tasty and all around solid porter.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 18:47:36 | More by Samp01

dumpman

Rhode Island

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

Thanks to ak for this bottle.
Pours a dark brown with a small head and not much lacing.
Notes of coffee and smokey chocolate roasted malt.
Overall taste is above average for this porter, first a blast of sweet malts and a nice balanced hop finish.
excellent mouthfeel and just the right carbonation effect.
Overall a solid porter i wish i had more of,not really filling but very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 20:03:18 | More by dumpman

shand

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Edmund Fitzgerald pours out a deep brown color capped with a small head. The aroma is nice and roasty, with chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt. The taste is excellent, it's got such a strong and well-balanced coffee and chocolate aspect that calls back to my first introduction to porters and stouts. To bring that kind of flavor intensity after how far my beer journey has progressed is impressive to say the least. It doesn't go beyond the base porter flavors of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate, but it does it so well. The mouthfeel is spot on, it's medium bodied and the carbonation level perfectly compliments the flavor. The drinkability is very good. Edmund Fitzgerald is just a world-class porter. It doesn't venture outside the box of what a porter should offer, but is so refined that I can't help but wonder how any other porters sell in areas that Edmund Fitzgerald is available.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 02:58:22 | More by shand

tectactoe

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep black with a very faint hit of dark brown along the edges. Tan colored head that mellows out to a thin span across the top of the beer leaving very little lacing on the way down. Initial smell is heavy chocolate and roasted malts, kind of had to coax it out. After the beer warmed up a bit and the glass was swirled, I started to get heavier notes of sweetness from the malts as well as some rich and milky smells. Incredible.

The taste is wonderful. First sip gives a huge roasted malt flavor up front, with a bit of a carbonation snap to it. After a little bit, more flavors start to develop: burnt campfire wood, nuttiness, sweet coffee beans, roasted grains. At the end of the sip, out comes an ever-so-slight yet still very noticeable bite from the hops, to finish the beer off with a nice floral touch. Honestly, the bitterness from the hops at the end, along with the malts and the sweetness of the chocolate is incredible - very nearly perfect in balance. Slightly creamy, but a little thin for what I was expecting.

Lovely porter, here. Great balance, great drinkability, and overall just a great beer. Anyone looking for a top-of-the-line porter should look no further. Great price, easy to find, and more than enough to fulfill your dark and roasted malty needs. Give this one a shot and thank me later.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 11:48:47 | More by tectactoe

argock

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a clear slightly tapered stemmed clear goblet. Best by 5/11/2013 on bottle neck. Purchased at Binny's Liquors (Chicago, IL) for $9.49.

A: Pitch black with 1-2 finger beige foamy head with good retention and plenty of craggy lace.

S: Roasty dark maltiness dominates with quite a bit of American hoppiness with orange and grapefruit. The dark malts also provide some plum and fig notes along with some coffee and chocolate character.

T: The flavor has significant gravity with big dark chocolate and strong coffee followed by dark fruit notes such as plum, fig, and raisin that finishes with crisp American C-type hoppiness with grapefruit and orange citrus along with light floral character. The dryness of the finish is helped by the roasted notes.

M: Medium-bodied with lively carbonation and undeniable smoothness.

O: A superb example of an American semi-robust porter: big dark fruit and roasty notes without being over the top, finished with American hoppiness. I enjoyed this beer, and I wish that I had gotten a chance at this a long time ago. Superb brew and deserving of the love it gets.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 03:06:05 | More by argock

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The last of my reviews of Great Lakes until I'm able to get back west (Michigan):

Best by December 5:

Into a pint glass:

A: pitch dark black colored body that gave a beautiful off-white/tan two finger head that lasted pretty much the entire brew, beautiful spider web lacing speckled my pint glass very nicely. The body was too for any carbonation to be seen rising.

S: coffee up front with light hints of cocoa and mocha. Some slight roasted barley and caramel showed up more so as the beer warmed.

T: very nice roastiness dominating all of the previously mentioned aromas that showed up in the taste.

M: medium to almost heavy that leaves a nice soft wet feel (interesting, but I liked it).

O: this is one fantastic beer that I remembered when I lived in Michigan years ago, I'm glad I got around to re-reviewing it and actually giving this a fair review.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 17:58:19 | More by kangarooAdam59