Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
No ratings yet — be the first to log it.
Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with roasted coffee and dark chocolate, with a mild earthiness underneath. On the palate, bittersweet cocoa and light espresso dominate, supported by a moderate hop bitterness that keeps things from going too sweet. The body is medium-full without being heavy, and the finish is dry and roasty with a faint smoky edge that lingers. It's a well-balanced porter that doesn't overplay any single element.
About the Brewery
Great Lakes Brewing Company is based in Cleveland, Ohio, founded in 1988, making it one of the earlier craft breweries in the Midwest. They built their reputation on approachable but technically sound ales and lagers, with this porter and their Dortmunder Gold lager serving as flagship anchors for decades. They operate a brewpub in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood and have been a consistent presence in regional craft beer without chasing trends aggressively.
Food Pairings
Grilled or smoked brisket works well here because the porter's roasty bitterness mirrors the char on the meat without fighting it. Sharp cheddar or aged gouda provides a fat-and-salt contrast that softens the coffee bitterness. A brownie or dark chocolate torte pairs naturally since the beer's cocoa notes run parallel to the dessert rather than clashing. Oysters on the half shell are a classic porter match, with the briny minerality cutting cleanly against the roast.
Style Guide
American Porter is a dark ale defined by prominent roasted malt character — coffee, dark chocolate, and occasionally a light smokiness — with a moderate hop presence that leans more toward bitterness than aroma. It sits between a robust stout and a brown ale in body and intensity, typically ranging from 5% to 7% ABV. The style draws from 18th-century English porter traditions but American craft brewers pushed the roast and hop levels higher starting in the 1980s. Compared to a stout, porter generally has a slightly lighter body and less aggressive roast, though the line between the two is genuinely blurry.