Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald is the best American-style porter

June 3, 1:00 PMSuburban Philadelphia Craft Beer ExaminerMichael Hoster

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There is no need to beat around the bush––Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter simply is the best American-style porter in the world. It demonstrates a perfectly harmonized balance of the three rudimentary elements of an American porter: rich dark chocolate malts, roasted coffee and a generous helping of both aromatic and bitter hops.

Considering nearly every beer Great Lakes produces is nothing short of outstanding, it is really no surprise that Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is absolutely sensational. For example, Great Lakes Blackout Stout demonstrates a rich chocolate malt profile, a superb bourbon-aged undercoating, and an excellent blend of molasses, vanilla, roasted coffee and bitter hops. Additionally, Great Lakes Burning River is one of the top American pale ales on the market, exhibiting a citrusy bouquet of orange zest and cascade hops.

Now, after reading the aforementioned descriptions, these beers all sound wonderful, right? And, I bet that many of you are shoving your keys in your pocket to head out to the distributor, right? Well, try not to get too excited because if you live in Southeastern Pennsylvania, you will have an exceedingly frustrating time trying to find Great Lakes’ products anywhere.

The Great Lakes Brewing Company is based in Cleveland. Much like other small- to mid-level craft brewing operations, its distribution radius is very limited. To my knowledge, Great Lakes’ beers are distributed only as far eastward as the greater Pittsburgh area. So, unless you feel like gassing up the car and heading out to Steelers territory, you are sort of out of luck. Thankfully, however, two local bars actually carry Edmund Fitzgerald and several other Great Lakes’ products: Capone’s in Norristown and the Canal Street Pub in Reading.

Now, with the logistical aspects out of the way, let us get to the review. Edmund Fitzgerald Porter pours a dark, ruddy-brown color with a medium off-white head. It demonstrates a captivating aroma of bittersweet chocolate, roasted coffee and woody spice. The initial presentation is outstanding! Overarching dark chocolate malts and roasted coffee notes pave the way for a powerful, yet not overwhelming, delivery of mild aromatic hops. The finish is supreme, with a final kick of spicy, bitter hops and dark coffee.

Without question, if you enjoy American-style porters, such as Anchor Porter, Smuttynose Robust Porter or Troegs Dead Reckoning Porter, you will love Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald. So, pop some Gordon Lightfoot into your CD player and make the trip to Capone’s or the Canal Street Pub as soon as possible.

For more information on Edmund Fitzgerald Porter and other Great Lakes’ products, visit: www.greatlakesbrewing.com.