Lion Stout - Ceylon / Lion Brewery Limited

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

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

madeofsteel

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours as black as night, with just a trace of reddish brown the very edge of the glass. Finger and a half of brown cappuccino looking froth. Not much retention, but some very sexy lacing.

S - Not much going on in the nose. Faint smell of coffee. Burnt malts.

T - Bitter chocolate and coffee. Some balancing sweetness. Roasty, burnt, with traces of black licorice. Better when it's good and warm.

M - The alcohol here is noticeable, but is warming. Perfect for where I live right now, like a cocoa or something. Kind of dry for my liking, though.

O - This beer should definitely be consumed at a warmer temp, more flavors work together and the body really starts to come out. Reasonably priced for what it is: a very well rounded stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 01:53:02 | More by madeofsteel

plfahey

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

625mL bottle poured into a wine glass.

Appearance-Brown-black and almost totally opaque. Head is yellow-khaki with decent retention and great lacing.

Aroma-Chocolate syrup with intense berry aromas-tart blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Sweet, blackstrap molasses and black currants as well. Some roast and slight caramel as well. Interesting candy berry sweetness.

Flavor-Chocolatey and fruity up front, with some caramel-like sweetness. In the finish, roast flavors and slight black espresso come through, with medium low hop bitterness and low hop flavor. Some fruity ester notes linger on in the aftertaste which is mostly chocolatey/roasty and semi-dry.

Mouthfeel-Medium full body with moderately high carbonation. Soft carbonation and full body with some alcohol warmth.

Very exotic and tasty-a lovely example of a tropical export stout. Always a good go-to export stout. Love it.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 08:00:00 | More by plfahey

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.68/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from an 11.2oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a short light brown head that fades slowly and leaves a thick on the glass.

S: The aroma contains dark fruit, coffee, chocolate, licorice and roasted malts.

T: The taste starts out with a quick burst of smokiness that is followed by a hearty roasted malt character. Then some flavors of coffee, milk chocolate, dark fruit and spices come in along with a mild sweetness. The hops presence is very mild but complementary and brings a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty with good complexity, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, although there are others in the style that I would choose first, this is a solid beer worth drinking for a while.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 04:48:08 | More by TheManiacalOne

dansmcd

Australia

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Two fingers of dense, soapy tan head over the jet black body. The head recedes to a collar and some minimal lacing.

S - Chocolate, licorice, dark fruit and spices.

T - Bitter dark chocolate dominates, with a supporting hint of coffee, ash and a slight alcohol heat.

M - Chalky mouthful, moderate body, medium carbonation, bitter and warming with a dry finish.

O - A quality export stout, and just the ticket with some chocolate bisuits after dinner.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 23:29:51 | More by dansmcd

hdelavega

Florida

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle to an oversized wine glass.
Dark oily black in color, light khaki head.
Nice roasty chocolate malt character in the nose, very well masked alcohol, a tiny bit of dark fruit, carmal, and vanilla.
Taste is full of chocolate, a bit of chili, some mote vanilla. I get some mote fruit, defiantly a nice coffee bitterness,
Mouth feel has a pretty high carbonation. A bit creamy, there is a bit more chilli in the finish. Pretty thin body.
Overall not bad, I love using this stout for cooking but rarely buy it to drink. Not a bad beer at all though.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 02:00:11 | More by hdelavega

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours pitch, motor-oil black with an enormous tall brown thick head; it's so very thick, almost like hard whipped cream. Slow dissipation leaves quite nice lacings.

S: Roasted sweet malts, some chocolate and strong black coffee. Dark dried fruits. A salty sour backbone, not bad but interesting...

T: Sweet, syrupy dark roasted malts. Dark dried fruits; mainly figs (the figs are both dried but also ripe - kind of strange). Some caramell in the back.

M: Short aftertaste. Medium body and very low carbonation. I expected more.

O: Considering the geography of Sri Lanka/Ceylon this is probably the best beer ever. I you don't take the logistics in consideration, still a damn good producte.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 19:25:35 | More by Sunnanek

blakelive784

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle served into standard pint glass:

A - Pours a non transparent dark brown/black color. The head is two fingers, devoid of cream, and terrible retention. Excusable for the high abv.

S - Bitter chocolates, roasted malts, and a strange olive smell. Relatively mild, and the ethanol is present.

T - Much better than the nose predicted. Sweet cream and chocolate on the open. Roasty backbone is evident throughout. Extremely well built. High abv isn't noticeable until the finish, where it fits.

M - Full bodied, smooth and wet. Nearly perfect.

D - Hides its abv very well, well balanced, and extremely drinkable. I'm very surprised with this one and will have it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 02:24:31 | More by blakelive784

MadeInOregon

California

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

What the heck is Sri Lanka doing making beer like this?! I guess colonialism has had SOME good lasting legacies afterall...

THE APPEARANCE of the Lion Stout is the most surprising aspect of this beer: Thick, frothy lacing follows a dense, mocha-colored head, atop a completely opaque black body. Little yeast is left in the bottle when poured out, and subsequently a good amount clings to the sides of the glass and eventually makes its way to the bottom. This stout looks very malty and chewy, and could easily pass for a big, imperial stout or a barrel-aged brew.

THE SMELL, when cold, is very faint...almost zero. After it warms a lot, I picked out cocoa, big alcohol aromas, and little hops. There are strong Kahlua, sherry, and port qualities to this beer when fully warmed--it's just a shame it takes so much patience to bring out the aromas.

THE TASTE is good, just as I remember from the other times I've had it in the past. Like the smell, the taste is heavily muted and tame when cold so it really needs to warm. I found room temp to actually be the point at which I could really get a sense of everything this beer has to offer: rich, sweet, mocha, cocoa. To me, it tastes like an oatmeal stout with strong barleywine qualities. It has a dry finish and a slight wineyness to it, which are interesting for a stout.

THE FEEL is medium-thin and fairly hot for a stout, due to the high alcohol content. It is incredibly warming and despite being unusually strong for a basic stout it is very drinkable.

CONCLUSION: Lion Stout looks massive but is actually a little underwhelming considering so much of its nature is masked until you hit about 55 degrees in temp. It is a good stout and certainly should be enjoyed for that. However, this is not an "extreme" beer in the American craft beer sense so it will be a let down if approached in that way.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 03:26:12 | More by MadeInOregon

ckollias

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this 11.5 oz bottle out of a pint glass.

A: Pours a pitch black color with a one-finger tan head that leaves a gorgeous trail all the way down the glass and ends in a wispy lace.

S: Great aromas of roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee.

T: Similar to the smell, roasted malts, chocolate and coffee flavors cross the palate. Smooth brew with a creamy body.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Hands down, one of the best stouts I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 01:08:59 | More by ckollias

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

brewskifan55

Mississippi

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a plastic cup at Sydney's while walking around the French Quarter

Appearance: brown/black color with a 1 finger head that sticks around.

Smell: caramel, chocolate, alcohol

Taste: coffee, chocolate, with a hint of anise. A slight fruity finish. A very smooth yet complex stout. Didn't realize the ABV was so high; no wonder I was feeling so mellow.

Mouthfeel: medium, creamy, good carbonation

Overall: The guy at Sydney's said if I liked Old Rasputin, I'd enjoy this stout. It definately ain't Old Raspy, but it's got an easy drinkability like OR. Bold but enjoyable. And all the way from Sri Lanka, no less. A fine sipper while watching the Mississippi River roll on by.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 19:55:21 | More by brewskifan55

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

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

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a single of this from Julio's.

A - Poured into a duvel tulip a great deep oily almost clear though black hue with a soft mocha head that leave great haloing and clouding.

S - Big chocolate, brown sugars, roasted malts, and some dark fruits.

T - Similar to the nose, there is a great rich, roasty malt flavor that gives way to sweet almost fruitiness. There is a slight bitterness at the end as well.

M - Nice mouthfeel. The ABV is nicely hidden, good carbonation, sweet in the mouth. Good finish.

O - Nice foreign stout here. Quite accessable but I kinda liked Guiness more than this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 02:47:49 | More by rudzud

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

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

625 ml Bottle reviewed on it's best before date (Sep 2011).

I was really impressed, this looked, smelled and tasted like a good quality Stout. Lovely velvety looks, those rich, smooth malty aromas of roasted and toasted barley just carried on into the mouth. Chocolate and mild Coffee flavours linger in the mouthfeel as the brew level slips slowly down the glass.

One of the simpleist and best tasting Stouts I've had, ever.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 19:02:49 | More by BlackHaddock

adsomers

California

4.4/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I went from having a dismissive attitude about this beer to considering it a favorite. That it is so cheap and accessible is a welcome bonus.

I'll skip the detailed review and just say that it ain't your everyday stout. It has.a fruity sweetness to it but is not overly rich. There's a sight tartness to it that make it quite refreshing IMO. The head is creamy and leaves a nice lace. Most of all, this beer is digestible, like a good abbey or Trappist ale.

Highly recommended but leave yuor expectations at the door.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 04:01:07 | More by adsomers

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

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

output01x

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 330 mL. capped bottle (No Date) into a pint glass.

A strong pour yields a 2 1/2-finger mocha-colored head that quickly disintegrates after a couple minutes to a thin dusting and thin foam ring. The body is a deep, near mahogany black. Throughout consumption, decent lacing can be seen sticking to the sides of the glass like honeycomb.

Dark roasted malts aromas flow out of the head with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, brown sugar, raisins, and plums. The nose is a little on the sweet side with the dark fruit aromas overpowering the chocolate and coffee aromas.

Just like the nose, sweet dark fruit flavors dominate the taste. Notes of plum, raisin, black cherry, and brown sugar hit the taste buds first. A light, almost cognac alcohol flavor is also detected. As the beer is swallowed the dark fruit notes turn evolve into flavors with black cherry and plum being the most dominant. As these flavors settle and wane, a dark chocolate and dry coffee flavor begins to surface but is quickly met by a light rum alcohol warmth.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, this beer is slick and smooth. The body is there but is not thick or coating and is only slightly sticky. The carbonation is not fizzy and does not create a creamy mouthfeel but can definitely be noticed working behind the scenes.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 04:54:41 | More by output01x

BeerDocT

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Well, I just complained about the stout classifications and here I am reviewing a "Foreign/ Export Stout." A stout's a stout IMHO and this brew proves that aphorism.

Poured from a bottle into a chilled, wide-mouthed glass.

-Appearance 4.0: Foamed up to a nice head; over a half inch and a beautiful khaki colored head at that. The color of this stout is black, yes, but is a more clear black than some other stouts. Less "inky black" and more of a gem-like color. A beauty.

-Smell 4.5: Wow! Big, delicious bouquet. Notes of chocolate, brown sugar, toasted cereals...this baby SMELLS like a stout should!

-Taste 4.5: First tastes are semi-sweet chocolate and concentrated barley. This is followed by a big wave of cool liquid. The aftertaste is wonderful and very strong: smoky, chocolaty...just delicious. This is one of those beers that makes you taste it again and again to find other flavor levels and different nuances. Just delicious.

-Mouthfeel 4.0: This is a bottle-conditioned ale; "Beer Hunter" Michael Jackson's picture on the back label told me so! Mouthfeel is good but not great: a bit too much carbonation. This is, however, just a nitpick. Kind of like noticing a piece of lint on the Crown Jewels of England.

-Overall 4.5: Excellent stout. This beer could stand toe to toe with the best beers in the world and come out on top. This stout is refreshing, warming and demonstrates a quality of brewing at each and every level. Its high ABV (8.8%) is completely unnoticeable in the taste, so be aware.

I paid $10.99 for a six pack of these at the Lotte/ Assi Plaza in Atlanta. Good of the ol' Beer Hunter Mr. Jackson to appear on this beer, as it is a magnificent brew. Worthy of the name "Lion." Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 03:57:42 | More by BeerDocT

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very nice almost black color and dark tan head about three fingers high. It dissipates very fast and leaves little to no lacing.
Smelling the beer I detect the expected roasted malts, but also nice chocolate notes as well as dark fruit like plum and raisin.
The taste is better than expected from a brew from Sri Lanka.
The fruity flavors come up front, followed by the roasted malt in the middle and the finish build the coffee and chocolate notes. Very well balanced and quite potent, with an ABV of almost 9 percent.
Definitely would buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 04:06:59 | More by Hopfenpeter

nhindian

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

~22oz bottle poured into a large snifter.

A - The beer itself pours almost as intimidating as the lion on the label, as it appears a pretty thick black with some muddy brown around the edges. I didn't pour extraordinary hard, but it still rustled a fluffy, 2.5-finger head, mocha in color. Retention is fairly standard, with extra points for lasting as long as it did given the ABV. The only slight I have against the appearance is the weak lacing, which only seems to cover a tiny fraction of what it touches.

S - I am enjoying the nose more than I thought I would, as it comes across as more complex than what I expected. It has the typical roast and malts, but it also gives off lots of dark fruits. Some alcohol coming across at the end which seems to soak the fruits. Nice combination and contrast between the malts and the fruits / hops.

T - The taste starts with a nice shot of coffee roast, which paves the way for the rest of the flavors. The coffee doesn't linger in sense of bitterness, but carefully segues into a rich, dark chocolate. Almost immediately after this, the dark fruits come in, like plums and raisins and even some granny smith apples in the finish, which adds a nice sweetness to complement the malts. After this, the alcohol returns, which is nice at first as it adds yet another layer, but as I drink, I find it more and more intrusive. A bit too fusel for my liking, which is probably my only major complaint for the taste.

M - Mouthfeel is moderately heavy-bodied with medium carbonation. For coming from all the way from Sri Lanka and sitting for who knows how long, I think this beer has held up pretty well, which can't be said for all beers that are imported. Very smooth and creamy, and leaves a lasting impression of alcohol heat, raisins, and chocolate.

D/O - Drinkability is pretty high. This beer really did exceed what little expectations I had from it. I know it's rated solidly, but I still had my own reservations regarding this beer. I'm happy to say that I greatly enjoyed this stout, and at less than $4.50 for a bomber, it certainly outperforms some domestic stouts at a similar and even higher price point. The only glaring flaw I can see with this beer is the amount of alcohol that comes through in the finish, but at almost 9% ABV, I can definitely see where it's coming from.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 03:11:39 | More by nhindian

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Has a rich, nutty and chocolaty smell, with caramel and malty sugar aromas filling out the nose.

The flavor is far more sugary than I was expecting, the malts coming at me in waves of caramelized brown sugars, molasses, and toffee. This is, however, a stout, and so there are many stout-like flavors to complement those sugars: chocolate malts, hints of tobacco and coffee, lightly-burnt grains. As well, there are distinct vanilla and dark chocolate notes that ride between the sugars and the more bitter flavors. The aftertaste is dominated by tobaccos and burnt grains, and seems to disappear quickly, leaving only a slight alcohol burn on the tongue. The brew itself is slightly more viscous than water, sliding across the tongue like extra virgin olive oil.

Overall, I thought this an excellent stout, full of the lovely darker flavors that I expected, but also containing a nice sugary surprise that kept me coming back for more.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 19:22:14 | More by jondeelee