Great Lakes Brewing - Yet Another National Award

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Best. Beer. Ever.

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Great Lakes Brewing's Edmund Fitzgerald porter takes silver in Denver

Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Scott Stephens
Plain Dealer Reporter

Great Lakes Brewing Co.'s Edmund Fitzgerald Porter took home some new hardware over the weekend, winning a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

The winners were announced Saturday night, after three days of judging. More than 100 judges worked their way through 2,793 beers and awarded 22 medals in 75 categories.

A dirty job, but someone has to do it.

The Edmund Fitzgerald, a perennial award winner, placed second in the "robust porter" category, which had 62 entries.

Port Reyes Porter, from the Marin Brewing Co. in California, won the gold medal in the category. Planet Porter, from the Boulder Beer Co. in Colorado, took the bronze.

The only other medal-winning brew in Ohio was from Elevator Brewing Co. in Columbus. The downtown microbrewery scored a bronze medal in the "American-style dark lager" category with its Elevator Dark Horse.

The Edmund Fitzgerald for years has been recognized as one of the best porters in the world. The hops shape the flavor of the dark brew, competing nicely with the burnt malts.

Beer drinkers scared off by dark beers because they're too "heavy" ought to try this one - it's a very drinkable brew.

Over the years, the porter has won a variety of medals at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Championships.

Meanwhile, Pabst Brewing Co. was honored as the year's top large brewery. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. in Paso Robles, Calif., was this year's top midsize brewery. Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey in San Marcos, Calif., took honors among small brewers.

Breweries in California, Colorado and the Pacific Northwest continued to dominate much of the competition.

For a complete list of winners, go to www.GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.