Great Lakes Big Black Smoke

Rating #700. On tap at GLBC. Pours black (duh!) with a big tan head. Malty aroma of chocolate with some coffee and smoke (the firewood smoke, not ham). Chocolate flavor up front with more of that mesquite smoke and a bitter coffee finish. The smoke is definitely there, but doesn’t kill the other flavors. The lack of ham flavor is nice as well. Smoked beer well done.

Thanks to JaBier and his brother for sharing a growler. The beer is a very dark brown color with a medium beige head that dissipates steadily. Thin rings of lacing on the glass. Smokey aroma with notes of roasted malt and coffee. Medium body with a smoked character that is not overpowering. Notes of smoked meat, nuts and coffee plus some malt. The finish is smoked malt and mild coffee, with a nice smoke/roasty aftertaste. Pretty good overall.

Growler acquired in trade with goryshkewych (thanks!). Poured a dark brown color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of roastiness, a little earthy, light smoke, and nuts. Tastes of chocolate, lighter smoke, roast, and the same nuttiness. Smooth body. This one grew on me more and more as I drank it.

Poured a dark mahogany color with a small, tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of chocolate, smoke, chestnuts, coffee, and roasted malts. Taste of smokey meats, burnt wood, dark chocolate, and a roasty finish with a bit of sweetness.

Thanks to hopdog for sharing this growler. Pours a deep brown and almost black with a smaller creamy tan head. Aroma of light smoke, caramel, nuts and toffee. Flavor of light smoke, toffee, tobacco, nuts, dry and actually quite sessionable.

Pint at Great Lakes upstairs bar. Pours dark mahogany with a small tan head. Aroma is roasty chocolate, coffee and a little smoke. Flavor is more roast malt but still has a little smoke and chocolate. It is very similar to Edmund Fitzgerald with much more toasted malt. The only detraction is it’s thin.

Growler from the brewpub pours black with tan head. Aroma is some smoke, roasted malt, and some coffee. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor follows the nose and has chocolate flavors woven into the nose. Finishes with a smooth roast flavor that is very pleasing. This has to be one of the best smoked porters I’ve ever had. Mix Edmund Fitzgerald with a touch of smoke. And you’ve got one of the best smoked porters in your hands.

On tap. Aroma is roast, coffee, and a hint of smoke. Black, offwhite head. Flavor of roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, with smoke in the aftertaste.