For today’s craft beer review I thought I would share a Porter with you guys.  It’s been a while since I last tasted one and I have been craving that malty goodness for several days now.

The Porter I chose was the Edmund Fitzgerald from the Great Lakes Brewing Company located in Cleveland, Ohio.

I’ve had this brew before and I remember really liking it, but that was some time ago and I didn’t give it a proper review, so I figured it was about time to do so. 

From the website, greatlakesbrewing.com, we find this small description.

A complex, roasty porter with a bittersweet, chocolate-coffee taste and bold hop presence.

Let’s not wait any longer.

This brew comes in a 12 oz. bottle and has an ABV of 5.8%.

The beer poured a black to very, very, very deep ruby in color.  Ruby highlights were abundant and shimmered through the middle, around the edges and at the bottom of the glass.  The head was tan colored, of very good size, smooth, fluffy, creamy and soft.  It held its size for a minute or two then settled to a fine film resting on top of the liquid.  The lacing was not quite as good as I thought it might be, but it was still commendable.

The aroma started with an excellent fragrance of bittersweet chocolate.  Further distinctions of fresh roasted coffee along with a light touch of vanilla cream totally pleased these nostrils.  Deeper still, I found well balanced notes of yeast and earthy hops, which added even more character.  This thing smells really, really nice and well balanced.  It’s practically begging me to take a sip.

As the beer was raised to my lips and I took my first sip I was greeted by an abundance of rich chocolate.  I also detected the slighted hint of “smoke” along with some roasted and slightly burnt coffee beans on the back end.  A “milky” tone was created, I’m guessing, by the yeasty goodness.  A decent tinge of earthy bitterness caressed the sides of the tongue, but otherwise this brew had a very “round” and “smooth” taste.  Very nice I must say.

The mouthfeel was more medium than full I thought.  It was smooth, creamy, slick and chewy.  It slid down super easy, all the while leaving an appropriate amount of flavor behind as a parting shot.

Well.  I still really like this beer.  It’s one of the best Porters on the market today in my opinion.  It’s super easy to drink and it’s full of flavor and appeal.  I would never turn this down if it was offered I don’t think.  The nice roasted and slightly burnt smell and flavor suited the crisp evening on which I tried this perfectly.  If you have not had the opportunity to purchase and sample the Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter and you are a fan of this style, don’t hesitate…. pick it up.  I know I will do so again sometime soon.

Do you guys have a favorite Porter?  Leave a comment and we can discuss it.

Thanks for reading guys.  I trust everyone is having a good day?

Cheers.

Score:  4.3 out of 5
Grade:  A