Lion Stout - Ceylon / Lion Brewery Limited

markaberrant

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - pours jet black in the glass. Moussy, tan head holds up quite nicely. Leaves some splotchy lacing.

S - unique for a foreign stout - you've got your basic roast, but also some interesting earthiness, tobacco and smoke.

T - Smoky, sweet dense malt to start. There are all sorts of complex earthy, roasty flavours that really round things out. Long roasty finish with more smoke. As the beer warms, the malt sweetness becomes more evident and brings some dark fruit flavours to the forefront, while the roast and smoke fall into the background.

M - creamy, mouth filling, but not thick. Gentle carbonation, soothing alcohol is mild. Just about perfect for the base beer.

D - I'm hella impressed with this one, wish I had bought more than just a 6-pack.

Never heard of this beer until I saw it sitting on a shelf in Fargo, ND. I did a quick BA search via my phone in the store, and saw it had solid reviews, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

This kicks the crap out of anything I've tasted from England or Ireland in terms of a Foreign or even Imperial Stout. The smoke doesn't dominate, but it's presence is certainly obvious and blends in quite well. What makes this stout stand out from the others is the smooth, complex flavours that are still bold... I find the "bold" part to be missing from most "classic" examples. Incredible stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2008 01:29:59 | More by markaberrant

bdaggett

Vermont

3.66/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Dark body- really dark. Creamy, small head.

Smell: Dark roasted coffee and chocolate. A really pleasant smell that matches the appearance well. I was excited with the smell and expected a really good beer.

Taste: Like the other reviews say, the 8.8% is obvious at the end. However, it isn't overwhelming. The initial taste is roasted coffee - not much cream flavor, little chocolate. The roasted flavor dominates all other flavors.

Mouthfeel: Not too thick, fairly smooth.

Overall: A really solid stout. My first beer from Sri Lanka - surprisingly good. Not one of my favorites, but I would look for it again. If you are looking for a great heavy stout to sip with a meal, this is a great choice.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 01:43:20 | More by bdaggett

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.69/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A random score from the local LCBO...

A - Pours pitch black with a thumb of big bubbled cola looking head which quickly dissipates leaving no real lacing.

S - Burnt grains, dark cocoa and sugary sweetness with a lingering malted milk finish.

T - Dark cocoa, burnt toast, leafy greens, hint of burnt sugar sweetness and a touch of ABV heat. Finishes with the dark cocoa and ABV sweetness lingering.

M - Medium bodied, surprisingly sweet and finishes wet with a touch of heat.

O - Heavy of the burnt characteristics, but tasty nonetheless. The ABV is surprisingly well hidden, making it quite drinkable. I would buy this again and certainly wouldn't pass up the opportunity to drink it if the option were available.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 19:29:52 | More by andrenaline

LuckyJohn

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

06-15-2013 21:54:50 | More by LuckyJohn

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -23.9%

06-15-2013 18:06:38 | More by TheBeeraholic

ajzy

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

06-14-2013 14:19:46 | More by ajzy

lilsmizzul1225

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

06-08-2013 21:19:05 | More by lilsmizzul1225

Boilerfood

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

06-08-2013 02:54:26 | More by Boilerfood

sweemzander

Illinois

3/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz can poured into a snifter.

(A)- Pours almost pitch black in color. Some tan froth and lacing.

(S)- A raisin heavy roasted maltiness; almost smoky on the finish.

(T)- Again, quite heavy on the raisin with subtle molasses combined with an almost smoky but roasted malt profile.

(M)- A smooth carbonation level. A good malty balance that is a bit on the lighter side but plenty of flavor.

(O)- An easy drinking stout with smooth and mellow carbonation. Surprised this came in cans.

Serving type: can

06-04-2013 19:49:08 | More by sweemzander

soju6

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

A: Pours a black color with a cramy head that fades to nice lacing.

S: Aroma of roasted malt, chocolate bit of coffee and dark fruit.

T: taste of roasted malt , chocolate and dark fruit. Nice bitterness and c clean finish.

F: Full body, rich creamy texture, very well balanced. It’s been years since I have had this but it still as enjoyable as ever.

O: Good beer the relax with at the end of the day. Well worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 00:29:18 | More by soju6

Beric

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving: 12oz can into tulip glass
Served: 3 June 13

Appearance: Incredibly dark. Thick. Pours with a magnificent four finger head that takes a long time to dissipate. Great lacing as the head slowly collapses to a small coating of light brown, frothy bubbles.

Smell: Smells rich and roasty. Dark, dark bitter chocolate and dark roasted coffee notes seem to jump out through the black thickness.

Taste: The dark, bitter chocolate and roasted coffee seems to really come out in the taste. Unfortunately, I'm also getting some metallic notes from the can, forcing the overall rating down lower than what it should be. Really smooth and goes down easy. You can kind of feel the 8.8% on the very very back end, long after a sip, but the high ABV is masked well by the pleasently complex flavor.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy. Thick, just like a foreign extra stout should be.

Overall: Wow, a great beer, especially when you consider it comes from and island off the coast of India.

Serving type: can

06-04-2013 00:15:51 | More by Beric

quakeroatmealstout

New York

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

05-30-2013 03:33:23 | More by quakeroatmealstout

mlichens

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

05-27-2013 06:28:16 | More by mlichens

maketheheartglad

North Carolina

4.84/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A - It's black with a chocolate milk head.

S - It's smells like dark fruit and rum.

T - It tatses like dried fruit, particularly prunes (which i like) and rum at the end.

M - It feels thick.

O - I love it. It is the best stout I've had so far. Sure I've had Guinness . I didn't enjoy Duck-Rabbit's milk stout. I liked North Coast's Old Rasputin, but I like this even more than the others it seems like I can tastes more things. Perhaps the flavors I perceive and enjoy will change in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 04:05:54 | More by maketheheartglad

TokyoCO

Colorado

4.29/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Picked up a bottle in Japan, poured into a goblet.

A: Dark black with slight amber on the edges. Large head!

S: Sweet malts, milk chocolate, dark fruits. Quite a robust smell.

T: Starts off creamy and sweet, fruits are present. More bitter malts and slight chocolate/coffee taste is present in the middle. Ends with bitter chocolate and slight alcohol burn.

M: Creamy but not overly heavy.

O: This is good! No one taste is overwhelming as it is well balanced. Not as strong coffee and chocolate as a lot of stouts but the sweet malts and fruit are great. Definitely a sipper!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 09:14:10 | More by TokyoCO

tdmccarthy

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

05-23-2013 18:33:20 | More by tdmccarthy

bobbyr5

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-21-2013 01:56:52 | More by bobbyr5

MatterOfOpinion

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%

05-19-2013 02:40:48 | More by MatterOfOpinion

ppvora

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-17-2013 19:24:26 | More by ppvora

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.91/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a shaker pint, the beer is a dark, jet black coloring with a thick, dense, light tan head that starts a solid inch and a half, and settles into a filmy coating as you drink. Aromas of coffee, charcoal, bittersweet chocolate, and a hint of molasses. Very balanced aromas of savory and bitter, with highlights of smoke. Flavors of roast and nut on the forward tongue, with a milk chocolate backbone accented by charcoal and smoke. Very smooth flavors that are layered by subtle bitter and camp smoke characteristics. The beer remains smooth and fairly light in mouth, despite the rich and stereotypically heavy flavors. Roasted and smoky aftertaste, with a smooth, slightly dry finish. Very balanced and easily drinkable stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 23:54:44 | More by GarthDanielson

bum732

Maryland

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-15-2013 22:38:26 | More by bum732

Partridge

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

05-14-2013 13:26:59 | More by Partridge

Thedrizzle

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-13-2013 00:19:40 | More by Thedrizzle

CelticAleMan

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-08-2013 19:43:19 | More by CelticAleMan

Soneast

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

05-07-2013 00:36:49 | More by Soneast