Lion Stout - Ceylon / Lion Brewery Limited

cyrock1

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Black with a 3/4 inch moderately dark tan head.

Smell: Coffee and a little burnt sugar. Some toffee and caramel in the background.

Taste: Burnt toast and coffee with a handful of carmelized sugar on top.

Mouthfeel: Quick fading carbonation and hardly any hop bitterness.

Drinkability: A bit too astringent on the tongue in the after taste to want another one right away. Not really a sessionable stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2011 07:27:48 | More by cyrock1

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

3.18/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Liquorish with a dark chocolate hue. A deep heavy malt is at once, creamy and sweet. Lacking any real hop aroma the surprise is the full bitter hop bite. Heavy and flavorful chocolate and coffee notes blend in well. Tricky alcochol is certainly there, but hardly noticeable. The creamy head fades quickly.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2003 20:20:18 | More by BeerResearcher

TastyTaste

Minnesota

3.18/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured a pitch black color, dark tan head, not a whole lot fo lacing on the way down. Smell is of slight coffee and alcohol hints. Taste is too much alcohol, not enough stout, too much carbonation. Not a rich enough body to support the other flavors. There are better stouts, including ones that don't get Michael Jackson to pimp their beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2004 21:36:17 | More by TastyTaste

Brubaker

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Black with super 3 finger head that dissipate to a nice lace.

S- Coffee & malt

T- Sweet coffee, alcohol, malts, fruit/spice

M- Bubbly, maybe watery

O- Should be stronger & richer for a Stout. Alcohol and coffee mingle to make a anise/spice flavor.

Might Drink
Wouldn't Buy
Wouldn't Make

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 12:57:51 | More by Brubaker

schrist275

Florida

3.2/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A very quick developing head, colored like a frappacino sits easily on top of a very very dark dark maroon/black colored almost wine smelling bier. The first sip delivers chocolate and mellow hops. Its almost syrupy constitution lends itself well to the smell, they work very well together. If the taste could develop more of an after taste or carry the flavor further along the tongue it would be an outstanding beer. The alcohol volume is not readily tasted, but comes across in the wine like smell.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2002 09:17:56 | More by schrist275

Minkybut

Virginia

3.2/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured this beer into tumbler at 48 degrees. Beer was very black with a giant brown head that really lasted. Fruity nose chocolate oozing from chocolaty head. Good lacing. Slight interesting smoky taste but also a bit sour to me which turned me off. Will not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2007 16:00:55 | More by Minkybut

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Saw this on the shelf and just had to pick it up. SSomething just really intriques me, probabaly the look on the bottle, looked like it was gonna hurt, so I had to try it.

A - Poured very very dark black, opaque with a huge billowing tan head. Took forever to settle down. Lots of residual lace pretty much obscured the entire glass, if there was visible carbonation I couldnt tell, too thick...

S - Very strong, bitter coffee grinds and very dark chocoalte, a touch of alcohol and some hoppiness as it warmed.

T - Very bitter, especially for a stout. Lots of coffee and a touch of chocolate as well. Had a dry finish. Not overall that pleasant though, too bitter and was trying to balance out and be something it was not.

M - Smooth, but very dry in the finish. Nice carbonation gave it a somehat creamy feel and a thick presence. Felt like a stout.

D - Ehh, it was drinkable, and at 8% abv, really showed no sign of the alcohol so it was definatly well hidden. I guess you could drink a few, I really wouldnt.

Overall this was ok. Maybe a notch above average for a stout, but just wasnt really what I was looking for. It really needed some more sweetness to it...It was good dont get me wrong, just not something I would really want to drink alot of. Give a shot for a try, it was definatly good for that.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2007 02:40:04 | More by mikesgroove

hardy008

Minnesota

3.23/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours black, not letting any light through. Has a 2 finger foamy tan head with good retention. The aroma has roasted malt and chocolate.

The taste also has a lot of roasted malt and dark bitter chocolate. There is also some vanilla. Is somewhat more bitter than sweet.

Medium bodied, decent carbonation. Not a beer that I love, but one that I do like. I would like it more, if there wasn't a somewhat burnt bitter aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 04:25:00 | More by hardy008

bigdrewsmoove

South Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours very dark with a substantial, two-finger brown cream head that sticks around for quite a while. Smell is pungent with a powerful alcohol smell. Almost reminds me of the smell of Name Tag beer which isn't the greatest smell in the world. Taste had some coffee and mocha flavors as the bottle suggested. Going to have to pick this up again from somewhere else than world market. Bottle had stuff floating in the bottom of it and tasted old. I have had other bottles from there that had stuff in it as well and just weren't very fresh. I'll update what I find.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 01:32:02 | More by bigdrewsmoove

codewarrior

New York

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

330mL from a mix and match 6-pack, poured into a snifter

Picked this bottle up on recommendation of the beer guy at Joy Wines on 6th. It's not a bad 6-pack stout, all things considered.

A: Pours dark and thick, pitch black with 2-fingers creamy thick head. Looks like a stout.

S: Rich bitterness, and a slight unexpected hoppiness. Something else in here, but not sure what. Slight hints at smokiness.

T: Good front, bitter, good back, fading into chocolate, middle is kind of implacable and lost. Smokiness increases a lot as the beer opens up, and ultimately makes the middle a bit better down the long-haul.

F: Bit on the thin side for a stout, feels nearer a porter to my mouth.

D: Similar to B.O.R.I.S. in a number of ways, only not as good. Still, for the price, this is a very tasty stout.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2010 16:29:06 | More by codewarrior

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured in to Founder's tulip.

A - Poured black with 2 fingers of foamy light brown head.

S - Roasted malts, a touch of licorice, some hazelnut and a some light coffee notes. Alcohol is slightly noticeable and the overall nose is somewhat bland.

T - Roasted malts, a touch of coffee, chocolate and some sweetness. Not overly complex for the style but still an enjoyable and easy to drink beer. The alcohol is also somewhat noticeable on the palate.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 21:30:37 | More by TheSevenDuffs

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a standard pint glass. The beer is coffee black. The dark cream head dissipates to a wisp. Minimal lacing. Smells weird, like Elmer's glue. Tastes of sweet vanilla over roasted malts and bitter chocolate. There is a brown sugar thing in there too, I swear. And to mimic the smell, a hint of glue! ??? The mouthfeel is a carbonated soda like feel.

Overall, this beer is weird. Not necessarily in a bad way. But I do detect a weird glue smell and taste. I picked up the brown sugar presence later on as the beer warmed up. I will say that for 8.8% ABV, the alcohol is hardly detectable, which is awesome, I hate boozy beers. I've seen this in stores for years, and was curious. I won't ever have one again, but at least I know what it is. Not bad, just interesting.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 02:12:08 | More by JuicesFlowing

samyoung

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Hamtramck liquor store on north Jo. Campau had a special on Lion. Have seen this one many times but have never bitten the bullet. This time the price was right.

A-Very nice, thick, creamy, black as night.
S-Roasted malty with hints of cream.
T-Smooth, with some hoppiness. Somewhat weak for stout. No doubt Haywards Black is a half assed copy of this recipe.
M-Fleeting.
O-Sri Lankans make a decent stout. Michael Jackson cannot be wrong as the label correctly implies.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 00:14:32 | More by samyoung

bbeane

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Poured into a 16oz tumbler... Has a thick brown head that slowly disappates. No light can be seen through it

S- Has the typical toasty stout smell, but lacks the chocolate or mocha overtones

T- Has the burnt stout taste with an ever so little hint of chocolate. Little detection of the slightly higher abv

M- Actually feels a bit watered down... less chewy than other chocolate stouts

D- Would drink another, but if there was other options... I would try something else

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2009 01:27:52 | More by bbeane

claytong

Vermont

3.28/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

appearance - wort brown in color. thick. solid tan head. looks a bit odd.

smell - malt overload. malt here, a malt there, a malt everywhere. samichlaus meet lion. minor coffee and brown sugar.

taste - a bit of grain. otherwise finishes the nose.

mouthfeel - everything is mediocre. mediocre carbonation, mediocre taste, mediocre body eh.

cheap but not really worth the price.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 22:25:11 | More by claytong

DmanGTR

New York

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - poured very dark, nearly black, with 1.25" tan head that retained nicely with decent lacing in my pint glass

S - dark chocolate, coffee, bread, oatmeal, mild floral tones, and a hint of currants. Of course, the alcohol is quite prominent.

T - coffee, burnt sugar, yeast, light chocolate notes, but in somewhat disproportional amounts. I'm detecting a bit much in the fruity and sweetness and not enough body to hold it together, especially with a high alcohol.

M - medium bodied, heavy carbonation, warming down the throat

D - not bad but the high ABV takes away in this department

Overall - A decent stout that gives a pleasant alcoholic kick to your evening, but it doesn't have enough body to keep it together. I found it actually slightly watery for a stout with too much carbonation. Still, stout lovers should give it a try. 'Tis a different catch.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2008 03:23:28 | More by DmanGTR

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown/black with a modest tan head the retreats quickly lacing the glass on the way down. Smell of dried fruit, and a bit of cocoa, some phenolic or higher alcohol in there to. Tastes of bitter roasted chocolate and coffee with a bit of dark fruit, then ends with some roast bitterness and a bit of alcohol or maybe fusel, its muted but there and I can't put my finger on it. Medium to thin body with a creamy/oily mouthfeel. Lingering roast bitterness after each sip. Good stout, a bit to vinous for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2008 02:57:24 | More by johnnnniee

blatherbeard

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The pour is dark...and i mean DAAARK. It pours an almost pitch black in color but has a white 1.5 inch head that actually dissipates quite fast.

The smell of coffee assaults my nostrils along with hops and malt. More malt than hops, but also an alchoholish smell.

Taste is a bit of coffee, a bit of chocolate, alot of malt and almost a taste of ....well vodka. And not good vodka.

Mouthfeel is very thick. Slides right down the back of your throat but doesnt stick to the back of your throat like some stouts.

For a beer that has an overpowering taste of alchohol, its drinkability is good. The alcohol taste fades quickly and the aftertaste is just, for lack of a better description, nice.

Id buy this again, just not every day.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2009 01:53:50 | More by blatherbeard

gruberbeer

North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

As my esteemed beer colleagues have noted, this beer is malt-ball malty. However, I dare to disagree with some impressions of its appearance and carbonation.

The appearance is lovely, black as night, and it has a frothy beige-brown head that foams and lasts long enough to tell you that this beer is appropriately carbonated.

My only qualm resides in this beer's overly enthusiastic chocolate flavor. I'm usually a fan of chocolate, but this beer's bitter chocolate mixes with the strong smokey ash flavor to make this taste more like I dropped a Hershey's bar into a campfire and then licked it clean.

Nevertheless, it augments a piece of pizza and will effectively hide any cumin flavor (if that's what you want) with its powerful smoke-screen.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 00:05:57 | More by gruberbeer

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours pitch black with a very tall mocha coloured foam head. Pretty good retention with some decent lacing.

S: Caramel and molasses-like malts are quite dominant in this. Fainter hints of chocolate follow. Lingering grain aromas can be detected as this warms.

T: Caramel, molasses, some chocolate, and quite a potent herbal anise taste. Fair amount of smoke, especially in the finish, which adds another dimension to this. However, the distinct taste of anise coupled with smoke is actually giving off a medicinal taste that I find a bit unpleasing.

M: Lighter body for the style with an appropriate carbonation.

D: Don't think I'll be revisiting this one, as the medicinal herbal taste I was picking up was off-putting and really controlled the taste for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2011 02:24:42 | More by Digimaika2

HarrySTruman

Michigan

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Huge frothy head, nearly 50% head. Lot's of lacing. Really looks the part of a beautiful stout.

The taste is a bit sweet for me when comparing it to other stouts. Coffee is the predominant flavor and alcohol is the predominant smell.

The price and the ABV of this, while having a very strong drinkability, make this a solid choice. I would certainly drink this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 15:18:19 | More by HarrySTruman

FtownThrowDown

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours very dark brown in color. There's a very nice frothy, espresso like head that forms on top. Plenty of carbonated bubbles racing towards the top of the glass.
Smell is lactic, heavily roasted malts and some cocoa. Taste is more of the roasted malts. There is a certain lactic, metallic flavor that is not jiving with me. Medium mouthfeel and bitter.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2008 21:31:02 | More by FtownThrowDown

StarlightSeraph

North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Dark, dark brown, with a three-finger tan head that slowly subsided. Left a good bit of lacing.

Smell: Dark fruits, caramel sweetness, roasted malts, wet cardboard (at first I thought the bottle might have been oxidized, but I had two, and both had the same smell), and a certain astringency that I couldn't place. Somewhat of a chemical sweetness to it, which was a little bit off-putting.

Taste: Bitter roasted malts and coffee up front, but an unpleasant chemical sweetness in the background. There were dark fruits that contributed to the sweetness, but the artificial nature of it was kind of off-putting. It mellowed out a little bit as I worked on my glass, but left a noticeable aftertaste that lingered long after the glass was finished. If you could get past the sweetness, it's a very smooth, very good stout...but that sweetness just bothered me.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, a little thin, but nicely carbonated.

Drinkability: If you can get past the sweetness it is easy to drink a couple, but it's a definite sipper. Not a bad beer, but if I have the choice there are plenty of other stouts I'd rather get. However, this was the only one available for me at the bar I was at, and it satisfied my craving. Good, but that artificial sweetness just bothered me.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2009 02:18:55 | More by StarlightSeraph

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle cold to a glass

A - 3 inches of head being the head is reddish tan. Color reminds me of Dark chocolate/coffee. Couldn't see through the glass

S - Strong hop/malt smell but at first couldn't figure out but my first guess would be like a dark chocolate or coffee.

T - Creamy taste at first but turns a little bitter, just a little! But it does turn smooth going down.

M - Creamy and smooth but full bodied

D - Good beer, one was good enough for me though. Great beer to share when your with others.

Over all not my kind of beer. This won't stop me from trying others in this class. I recommend this beer even though not my style. Someone with a more seasoned palate will appreciate this more than me.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2009 02:27:54 | More by FreshmanPour77

blackie

Virginia

3.35/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a: Nice mocha head recedes to a decent ring and small island of bubbles. The beer is a very dark brown, nearing black.

s: Creamy chocolate infused with roast coffee. Maybe some hazelnut. Weird salty Play-Doh in there. Eh.

m: low, smooth carbonation and a full medium body

t: Even for the style, the flavors are a little timid for my taste. It's still an okay beer, just a little bland and one-dimensional. Sweet, smoky roasts dominate over and earthy hoppiness. Roasted chocolate after the swallow.

d: easy enough but not a great beer

from zrrbrrt for my bombing

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2007 02:25:20 | More by blackie