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Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

Great Lakes Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Porter · One of 70 Porters in hopIQ

Named after the SS Edmund Fitzgerald that sank in Lake Superior in 1975. A robust porter with dark chocolate, coffee and roasted grain in a smooth, medium-bodied frame. Consistently rated among America's finest porters.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark34
See all Porter alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Substantial body.

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Porter.
Hop character
earthy
Malt character
chocolate
roasted
coffee
malty
toasty
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best American Porters

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

Appearance

Deep brown to near-black with a ruby transparency when held to light. A dense, tan head forms with good retention and leaves distinct lacing down the glass. Carbonation is moderate and fine, contributing to the structured visual presence.

deep browndense headgood lacingmoderate carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with roasted grain and dark chocolate, underpinned by coffee grounds and subtle cocoa powder. Secondary notes of molasses and toasted bread emerge, with a faint earthiness that grounds the profile. No hop aroma is evident; the character is firmly malt-driven.

roasted graindark chocolatecoffeemolasses

Taste

The palate opens smooth and medium-bodied with immediate roasted malt sweetness balanced by gentle coffee bitterness. Mid-palate reveals layers of dark chocolate and burnt toast, while a light dark fruit note adds complexity. The 33 IBU provides restrained bitterness that does not overpower the malt foundation.

chocolatecoffeeroasted maltbalanced bitter

Finish

The finish is clean and moderately long, with roasted notes persisting into a dry cocoa aftertaste. No astringency or harshness; the beer concludes with warmth and gentle dryness.

dry cocoaclean finishroasted fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
83
Appearance
81
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

Serve at 10–13°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 10–13°C. Too cold mutes the roasted complexity that makes a good porter worth drinking slowly.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within 6–12 months for best results. Baltic Porters can be aged longer.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

About Porter

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Porter?

Porters are dark ales with 4–6.5% ABV and IBU 18–35. Roasted malt brings chocolate, caramel and toffee — medium body with a clean finish.

Finding a similar Porter

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, chocolate, coffee character as Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Porters in hopIQ

Explore all Porter beers in hopIQ →New to Porter? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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