Great Lakes brews simple Fall stout
Mike Partel
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Ed-Op
Once the hydrometer was invented and specific gravities could be measured, a much more fermentable recipe including a large proportion of pale malt and a slight addition of black patent, a malt known for its intense roasted coffee flavors, could be formed.
The inspiration is largely thanks to higher taxes during the Napoleonic War. The style began to wane until around 1979, when British brewers began reintroducing recipes; Guinness, however, and others, continues to provide recognizable, fundamental staples.
As a simple pub beer, I thought the proper glass for this porter would be an English Pint. This variation contains the perfect pint pour of ale and maintains a decent amount of aroma for its shape. The gentle bump at the top of the glass is iconic to this style, and subtly accents the head formation.
Popping the crown off, Edmund Fitzgerald pours a black coffee-color that is slightly viscous. The pale, tan head that forms for several minutes and appears very creamy. Wafting over the glass's bump is a bouquet of molasses, coffee, and roasted malts. The flavor comes off with the appropriate notes of brown sugar, coffee, and molasses, in addition to figs, raisins and bittersweet chocolates. The overall taste is a pleasantly light roast with a mild coffee and chocolate backbone with a bit of tobacco in the finish.
It may come as a surprise, but I really enjoy porters and stouts.
Their roasted characters and balanced bitterness are always appealing to me. Great Lakes offers an excellent take on this traditional English style that is neither overly strong nor unnecessarily burnt like many imperial versions tend to be. Fitz seems to be just a solid, comforting beer for these cold, late-fall evenings.
With the dreary weather of the past few weeks, I think this is what we really need. I would recommend this beer for fans of commercial stouts even though it has a slightly fuller body than what you may be expecting coming from the likes of Guinness.
Anyone looking for a simple fall session beer will find comfort here as well. So what do you say? Grab a six-pack of Edmund Fitzgerald, dig through Pop's old records, and honor those lost to the Lakes this Nov. 10.
The inspiration is largely thanks to higher taxes during the Napoleonic War. The style began to wane until around 1979, when British brewers began reintroducing recipes; Guinness, however, and others, continues to provide recognizable, fundamental staples.
As a simple pub beer, I thought the proper glass for this porter would be an English Pint. This variation contains the perfect pint pour of ale and maintains a decent amount of aroma for its shape. The gentle bump at the top of the glass is iconic to this style, and subtly accents the head formation.
Popping the crown off, Edmund Fitzgerald pours a black coffee-color that is slightly viscous. The pale, tan head that forms for several minutes and appears very creamy. Wafting over the glass's bump is a bouquet of molasses, coffee, and roasted malts. The flavor comes off with the appropriate notes of brown sugar, coffee, and molasses, in addition to figs, raisins and bittersweet chocolates. The overall taste is a pleasantly light roast with a mild coffee and chocolate backbone with a bit of tobacco in the finish.
It may come as a surprise, but I really enjoy porters and stouts.
Their roasted characters and balanced bitterness are always appealing to me. Great Lakes offers an excellent take on this traditional English style that is neither overly strong nor unnecessarily burnt like many imperial versions tend to be. Fitz seems to be just a solid, comforting beer for these cold, late-fall evenings.
With the dreary weather of the past few weeks, I think this is what we really need. I would recommend this beer for fans of commercial stouts even though it has a slightly fuller body than what you may be expecting coming from the likes of Guinness.
Anyone looking for a simple fall session beer will find comfort here as well. So what do you say? Grab a six-pack of Edmund Fitzgerald, dig through Pop's old records, and honor those lost to the Lakes this Nov. 10.
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