great lakes brewery
Once I surpassed the notion that beer is a purely utilitarian device, I’ve attempted to develop what I would hope is an evolving palette and a greater appreciation for a good brew. While the craft-brewing movement is no doubt becoming quickly fashionable these days, I can’t say I entirely mind one bit at all.
There was most definitely a time in my life when I thought, by and large, beer was beer. Primarily a means to an end, it required a good amount of chug-a-lugging in order to obtain sufficient intoxication. However, the first time I tried a good IPA I realized that there was far more to beer than previously realized.
While I still love a good IPA, these days I’ve really been enjoying stouts and porters — a style of beer that, admittedly, I had to force down my throat the first time I ever sampled it. Ink-black and requiring the careful sipping of a fine wine, stouts can be complex, oaky, strong, and bitter at times.
Anyway, I digress — I LOVE Great Lakes Brewing Company. I stumbled upon Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald porter in part due to their employment of fantastic illustrations and package design, but also because once I had a chance to research the brewery, I quickly saw that their beer was among the most consistently praised and highly regarded on the market. Lucky for me, the company’s regional distribution now covers Washington, DC.
While I haven’t had the opportunity to sit down with the entire line, I can say that so far there hasn’t been a dud in the group. The whole experience is spot-on, and by the looks of it, their Brewpub in Cleveland, Ohio puts the finishing touches on an expertly well thought-out and curated “family of beers” (housed inside Victorian-era structures, the Brewpub’s taproom is rumored to bear the scars of bullets from the gun of Eliot Ness). I would probably take a trip to Cleveland just to go there.
I’ve been able to find Great Lakes beer in DC at Cowgirl Creamery and Yes! Organic Market, although I’m sure it’s available all over the city if you do a bit of sleuthing.
If you’re looking to find out more information on craft brewing, and/or beer in general, both BeerAdvocate and Ratebeer are truly great resources for both beginners (like me) and the well-versed.
