It's cold... And cloudy... And rainy. Not a torrent, just a drizzle. Just enough to be annoying. Sounds like porter weather. The roasty malts and alcohol should keep me warm. And since it's my day off, I can have one. I am fortunate enough to have access to one of the best beer bars in the midwest and possibly all of America: The Map Room in Chicago. This bar prides itself on a large selection of specialty beers and a knowledgable staff.
Looking at the menu board I find a lot of Belgians and imperial IPAs. A downside of the unique beer bar is it's sometimes hard to find something "normal" - the beer equivalent of comfort food. Luckily they had a porter. The porter on tap: Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald. A beer as mysterious and unexpected as the sinking of the ship it's named after.
The aroma starts with chocolate covered caramels and a bit of coffee.
The Beer is black with an off white head that quickly recedes to a thin layer atop a sea of black. Minimal lace but a large meniscus around the inside of the glass.
Tastes of dark fruit and roasted malts dominate but with a grassy/piney hop note. Medium bodied with a slick texture that coats the mouth. Carbonation is average.
In the end, the hop flavor is a little distracting and I’d like to see more roasty malts, but overall this is a good beer for a such a dreary afternoon. Not the best of the style, but I would definitely order again.
