The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead. You’ve probably heard those lyrics a thousand times on classic rock radio, usually right as you’re driving past a gray, choppy body of water. Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting ballad immortalized the "Mighty Fitz," but for many craft beer lovers, the name invokes something else: a dark, roasty, and surprisingly complex brew. Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter isn't just a flagship beer for a Cleveland-based brewery. It’s a liquid monument.
Most people drink it because it’s a world-class porter. Honestly, it’s arguably the benchmark for the entire style in America. But the connection between the beer and the 1975 disaster is deeper than just a clever marketing name. It’s about the geography of the Rust Belt. It’s about the terrifying power of Lake Superior. It’s about how we remember tragedies through the things we consume daily.
Why the Edmund Fitzgerald Still Haunts Us
November 10, 1975. A Monday. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was a "laker," a massive freighter carrying taconite iron ore pellets from Superior, Wisconsin, to Detroit. It was the biggest ship on the Great Lakes for a long time. Then, a monster storm hit.
Winds were gusting over 70 knots. Waves were stacking up like literal apartment buildings, some reaching 35 feet high. The captain, Ernest M. McSorley, radioed a nearby ship, the Arthur M. Anderson, saying, "We are holding our own." Minutes later, the ship vanished from radar. No distress signal. No survivors. All 29 men on board were gone.
The wreck sits in two pieces in Canadian waters, about 530 feet deep. To this day, we don't know exactly what sank her. Did the hatches fail? Did she bottom out on a shoal? Did a "Three Sisters" wave sequence—three massive waves hitting in quick succession—overwhelm the deck? The mystery is part of the legend. When Patrick and Daniel Conway started Great Lakes Brewing Company in 1988, they knew this story was the pulse of the region.
The Liquid Tribute: Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
Naming a beer after a tragedy is a delicate dance. Do it wrong, and it’s exploitative. Do it right, and it’s an annual toast to the maritime history of the Great Lakes.
The Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter was one of the first beers the brewery ever produced. It wasn't some experimental small-batch thing. It was their statement. They wanted something that felt like the Great Lakes in November: dark, cold, and intense, but with a warmth that keeps you going.
What’s actually in the glass?
If you pour it right, the beer is almost pitch black. It’s got that creamy, tan head that looks like the foam on a wind-whipped shoreline.
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You’ll smell chocolate and coffee right away. That’s the roasted barley and the Crystal malts doing the heavy lifting. There’s a slight bitterness, too. Not the aggressive, citrusy bitterness of a modern IPA, but an earthy, herbal snap from Northern Brewer and Willamette hops. It’s a balanced beer. It’s 5.8% ABV, which is surprisingly light given how heavy it looks. You can have two and still tell a coherent story about shipwreck theories.
The beer has won countless awards, including multiple gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival. It’s one of the few beers that hasn't changed its recipe much over the decades. Why mess with perfection?
The Mystery of the Sinkings
People get weirdly obsessed with the Fitzgerald because of the "why."
There are three main theories that maritime historians argue about over pints of this porter.
- The Shoaling Hypothesis: This suggests the ship grazed the Caribou Island Shoal. It tore the hull, the ship started taking on water, and eventually, it just lost buoyancy and dove.
- Structural Failure: Some think the ship's frame was stressed from years of carrying heavy ore. Under the weight of the storm, the hull might have simply snapped.
- The Hatch Covers: This is the most "human error" theory. If the crew didn't secure the hatches properly, the massive waves sweeping the deck would have filled the hold.
The Conway brothers have always been respectful of the families. Every year on the anniversary of the sinking, there are ceremonies around the lakes. The bell of the ship was actually recovered in 1995 and is now at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point. It’s a heavy place to visit. You see the names. You realize these weren't just characters in a song; they were fathers and sons.
A Beer for the Rust Belt
Cleveland is a tough city. It’s a town built on steel, salt, and water. Great Lakes Brewing Company was the first craft brewery in Ohio, and they set the tone for everything that came after.
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter basically paved the way for the "Ohio Style" of brewing—sturdy, malt-forward, and reliable. It’s a blue-collar beer. You’ll find it in high-end gastropubs in Chicago, but you’ll also find it in dive bars in Duluth. It bridges that gap.
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It’s also surprisingly good for cooking. If you’re making a beef stew or a chili, dumping a bottle of Fitz in there adds a depth you just can't get from water or stock. The chocolate notes in the malt play off the spices in the chili perfectly. It’s a trick a lot of Lake Erie locals use during the winter.
Real-World Impact: The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society
Great Lakes Brewing doesn't just use the name; they support the history. They’ve long been involved with the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS). This organization does the hard work of underwater archaeology and maintaining the memorials.
When you buy a pack of this porter, you're tapping into a specific cultural ecosystem. It’s a reminder that the Great Lakes are basically inland seas. They are dangerous. They are beautiful. They are the reason these cities exist.
Tasting Notes for the Uninitiated
If you’re trying it for the first time, don't drink it ice cold.
Seriously. Take it out of the fridge and let it sit for ten minutes. If it’s too cold, the cold "numbs" the roasted flavors. As it warms up to about 45 or 50 degrees, you start getting the secondary notes—toasted bread, a hint of smoke, and that bittersweet cocoa finish.
It’s a "slow" beer. It’s not a lawnmower beer you crush in the summer. It’s for sitting by a fire or looking out a window at a storm.
Comparing Porters in the Modern Market
The craft beer world has gone crazy lately. Everyone is making "Pastry Stouts" that taste like liquid donuts or "Smoothie Sours" that look like V8. In that environment, the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is a bit of an outlier.
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It’s a traditional English-style porter but brewed with American ingredients. It’s not sweet. It’s not "cloying." It’s dry enough that you want another sip. Compared to something like Founders Porter (another Michigan legend), the Fitz is a bit more hop-forward and slightly lighter on the palate. Founders is like a meal; Fitz is like a conversation.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often call the Fitzgerald a "ghost ship." It’s not. It’s a grave.
There’s a lot of folklore surrounding the wreck, but it’s important to remember the 29 families. When we talk about the beer and the ship, it’s easy to get lost in the "cool" factor of maritime disasters. But the beer serves as a prompt to learn the actual history.
Did you know the Edmund Fitzgerald was the first ship on the Great Lakes to reach the milestone of carrying a million tons of ore in a single season? It was a workhorse. It was a symbol of American industrial might. Its loss was a massive shock to the maritime community, leading to huge changes in safety regulations and survival suit requirements.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Great Lakes Experience
If you want to truly appreciate the history and the brew, here is a bit of a roadmap for your next Great Lakes adventure.
- Visit the Brewery: Head to Ohio City in Cleveland. The Great Lakes Brewing Company brewpub is in a historic building that used to be a stable. You can see the original bar where legend says Elliot Ness used to sit.
- Go to Whitefish Point: If you find yourself in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, visit the Shipwreck Museum. Seeing the actual bell of the Fitzgerald is a sobering experience that puts the beer in a whole new perspective.
- Pairing Lesson: Try the porter with a sharp cheddar cheese or a smoked brisket. The fats in the food cut through the roasted bitterness of the beer beautifully.
- The November Vigil: Many bars around the Great Lakes do a "tapped at the hour of the sinking" event on November 10th. It’s a quiet, respectful way to participate in local culture.
- Check the Date: Like all malty beers, Edmund Fitzgerald ages okay, but it’s best within 4-6 months of bottling. Check the "bottled on" date on the neck. Freshness brings out the hop balance that keeps it from being too heavy.
The Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter is more than a beverage. It’s a 12-ounce history lesson. Whether you’re a maritime history nerd or just someone who likes a damn good dark beer, it’s a staple that deserves a spot in your fridge. Just remember to pour one out for the crew of the 29. They’re still out there, under the cold waters of Lake Superior, while we sit in the warmth of a bar, enjoying the brew that bears their ship’s name.