Lion Lager - Ceylon / Lion Brewery Limited

Sunnanek

Sweden

2.76/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Well, one of the best Foreign Stout has a Lager brother. Could this be a good idea?

A: Pours hazy golden, bit pale. The light white head is massive, but sinks rather quickly. Decent lacings.

S: Clean malt, with some bitter hops. Rather mild in smell. A bit sweet. Rice?

T: There is malt, a bit sweet, there are bitter hops, a bit mild. Even some floral hops way in the back. But everything is kind of mild and boring actually.

M: Aftertaste is short but a bit sour. Body is on the lighter side, while carbonation is strong and offensive.

O: Lion Stout is fantastic, Lion Lager is boring.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 14:28:45 | More by Sunnanek

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

2.6/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A 330ml bottle with a BB of April 2012. Picked up cheap from a local off-licence. The label claims that this was first brewed in the 1880s to slake the thirst of English tea planters.

Poured into a straight pint glass. A golden-amber colour with low carbonation. Forms a large head of white foam with a thick, creamy texture; it lasts for a couple of minutes before subsiding. Aroma of light malt with an offensive stale note of corn, overcooked veg and stewed leaves. None too pleasant.

Tastes of light malt with a dry finish. Notes of grain, overcooked veg and stewed hops. A mild bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and almost creamy, with light tingling. Faint astringency. Aftertaste of bitter stewed hops/veg.

A bog-standard macro lager, though it doesn't smell too nice. Bland flavour of weak malt and corn; the only plus is it's pleasing smoothness. Falls far short of the standard set by Lion Stout - incredible how the same brewery can produce two beers that are miles apart in quality. Give it a miss.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 20:40:40 | More by jazzyjeff13

jsisko01

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a cloudy pale golden color with an inch thick white head that lingers for a few minutes. Has very nice lacing.

Smell - Sweet, grains and corn, and pale malts.

Taste - Pale malts, sweet corny flavor, grains, and a very light bitterness. A bit watery.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with light carbonation.

Overall - This was better than I expected. Not bad..

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 04:13:59 | More by jsisko01

canoehornpoint

Pennsylvania

2.23/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a nice golden/amber with no head at all. Yeast in the bottom of the bottle smelled very good. Slight european noble hop aroma. This seems to be agressively hopped but is not very pleasant or balanced. I think this is the kind of beer you love or hate but nevertheless it does not seem to be of high quality. do not recommend.

Dumped it and got something else.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 01:22:58 | More by canoehornpoint

IPA35

Netherlands

2.7/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Best before 8 Januari 2012 so I got this bottle for free.

A pale lager, not as pale as most of its competitiors though, big rocky head with medium retention.

Has that typical sweetish aroma as with many of the more exotic lagers. Prehaps a bit like Red Stripe? Grassy herbal hops but alot stronger than with most. I can see where tobacco and kiwi come from, people.
It also contains grain obviously.

The taste is rather standard. A little bit more grainy than most similar lagers, some hops. A bit metallic at times.

The mouthfeel is quite watery and carbonated.

Overal a mediocre lager.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 19:39:23 | More by IPA35

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

2.9/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine July 2007.

We're pretty sure that were it not for the popularity of Lion Stout, this beer wouldn't be found in the US.

Very clear and bubbly; pale-golden straw color. More than enough carbonation produces a sizeable head that drops down to a clinging white lace. Grassy herbal hop in the aroma--almost tobacco-like. A bit of cooked cereal in the nose as well. No shortage of smoothness here, which really helps out its light body. Big, gritty cereal flavor comes out swinging; the malt character, on the other hand, seems a bit weak. Hop bitterness comes through, but with bitterness--there isn't much blocking its way or balancing it out. Grain goes a bit husky, but other than that, the palate is quite clean. Finishes dry with a slight yeasty tone.

This is one of those regional Pale Lagers that wouldn't be half bad if you are in Sri Lanka when it's hot and humid. Otherwise, it just doesn't compare to its rivals, and gets tossed easily into the "run of the mill" bin.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 20:53:33 | More by BeerAdvocate

Brent

Kentucky

3.55/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Approaching any beer from a country not known for a history of beer production is always a bit dicey. Overall, while this is a fairly simple, straightforward brew, it was not all that bad. Pour was a clear gold with thin, short-lived head. Aroma was a bit fruity. A bit sharp and tinny at first, some apple fruityness is prominent, with a bit of corn and adjunct flavor intertwined.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 13:59:34 | More by Brent

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

2.48/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

11.2 oz bottle poured into an American tumbler pint. 4.8% ABV, string of numbers on neck, no distinguishable date.

A - Pale straw yellow and totally clear with little in the way of carbonation. A two-finger white head rises up, lowers quickly, and leaves little lace on the glass.

S - To find this Euro pale lager unskunked in aroma is quite a surprise! What I picked up definitely doesn't help it though. Freshly paved asphalt, band aids, some yard mulch, and not a hint of beer ingredients. It's also incredibly low in potency, so I suppose in this situation, that's a good thing.

T - A far cry from the aroma, it actually tastes somewhat like beer! Sweet pale malt, crystal also perhaps, and grains with cooked corn. Not awful but not great at all either.

M - Light-bodied and crisp with a mild sweetness and clean, carbonated finish.

D - Plug your nose from this one. Otherwise it goes down decently with slight refreshment but it's a shame this comes from the same place that makes one of my favorite stouts.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 17:10:45 | More by BeerFMAndy

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

2.4/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

330ml bottle served in a pilsner glass.

L - clear yellow color with a white head that faded fast.
S - grainy sweetness, kind of an odd fruit aroma as well, kiwi?
T - grainy taste with a little shot of grassy hops.
F - light bodied with a thin feel.
D - kind of weak on it's own but it works to wash down a salty snack.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2010 01:34:05 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

luchris80

Florida

2.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pilsner glass.

Aroma: Pretty mild really. Maybe a bit of hops (slightly floral).

Appearance: Pale straw to honey color. Tall, slightly off-white head that dissipates with a trail. Crystal clear with tons of bubbles visible.

Flavor: Low hop flavor with very slight bitterness. Slight dryness at finish.

Mouthfeel: Very light body with high carbonation. Slight astringency.

Overall Impressions: Refreshing and easy drinking, but nothing special. Not unlike many domestic lagers out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2009 18:08:24 | More by luchris80

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

2.75/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

"Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter."

--African proverb

Haystack gold with sunshine colored trim. A few small flakes are present and slowly sink to the bottom of the glass... always a disconcerting sight. Barely two fingers of bone colored foam appeared on the pour. Acceptable persistence and acceptable lace earn the beer an acceptable appearance score.

The nose is more aggressive than the usual Euro pale lager fare... which isn't necessarily a good thing. The hops are musky and not the least bit grassy or lemony. An absence of any real offensiveness helps.

Lion Lager isn't especially good beer. Its biggest problem is that it has more sweetness and less bitterness than is typical for the style. Looks like the lion's roar has been reduced to a hoarse clearing of his throat.

The flavor profile is as simple as simple can be. We have untoasted pale malt that adds a mild-moderate sweetness and a mild graininess. We also have a minimal amount of herbal and earthy hoppiness that is most likely the only thing Euro about this beer. Saaz most likely. Have I used the word 'lackluster' yet?

The body/mouthfeel is okay with respect to size, but there aren't enough bubbles. The result is a rapid collapse as soon as beer hits tongue. Not good.

Lion Stout is excellent beer. Lion Lager is not. Sorry, but there's no glory to be found here, no matter who the historian happens to be.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2009 13:37:43 | More by BuckeyeNation

mrmanning

Ontario (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Lion lager has been on my radar for some time now, so I am happy that I will finally get to try it. Pours deeper yellow to amber, with a white fizy head, with no life. Vegetal aromas punch you in the groin. Freshly cut grass, an ounce of corn, eye of newt. You get the picture. Flavours are malt forward, but with no redeeming hop character, this one fails to hit the mark. Lots of creamed corn, and hay notes. Finishes without notice. C'mon guys, you brew a world class stout, and a corn class lager.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2009 15:15:16 | More by mrmanning

Rayek

Colorado

2.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Pokal.

A: Gold, with an ever so slight chill haze and big carbonation bubbles. A dense, two finger thick white head slowly recedes to a thin film. Leaves a good amount of lace.

S: Not much going on here. Cracker like malts are joined by a very slight honey sweetness. There's a bit of a musty aroma in the background.

T: Starts out with the straw like flavor typical for the style. Bitterness has more of a bite to it than most EPL's. Unfortunately, it could stand being a lot more pleasant. The flavor is mostly metallic, with only a touch of pepper. Cooked veggie flavors creep in before the beer mellows out and finishes clean.

M: The light body is under carbonated.

D: It looks decent enough. The low ABV and light body make it go down quickly. Keep it cold, and this is a passable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2009 01:23:34 | More by Rayek

BierFan

Michigan

2.83/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from an 11.2 ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Dark golden/light amber body. The head is rather nice, white and fluffy, decent retention. Carbonation is a little low.

Smell: Malty and grainy. Not that nice.

Taste: Taste is similar to the smell. Little bit of hop flavor and light bitterness in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2009 02:33:06 | More by BierFan

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a brown bottle into a weizen glass. Has a golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Aroma is mild and malty. Taste is crisp and refreshing but not very flavorfull. Feels good in the mouth and is a great warm weather drinking beer. Overall a pretty good effort.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2009 23:00:41 | More by tone77

CrellMoset

Virginia

2.4/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle courtesy of dkachur - I'll wait to thank him 'til after I've tried it though! Poured into a cervoise.

Appearance: Pours a crystal clear golden body, a pretty color, topped by a crown of two-fingers of crystalline, snow white foam. The retention is surprisingly good, above average for the style, I'd bet, though it eventually does fade into a solid dusting, leaving behind - at least initially - some decent lacing, sheet-like at first and then erratic, swirling all over the sides of the glass. Carbonation is infrequent, well-distributed, and reasonably slow. I'm willing to call this this beer's best characteristic.

Aroma: A step down. Green, light, estery notes, a dash of corny sweetness, and zero hop presence is about par for the style, but nothing very impressive.

Taste: Pale, husky sweetness, high up on the register, almost green apple like in places. Only the faintest bit of hop bitterness exists to balance out the sweetness, which manages to not be cloying only on account of its husky unpleasantness.

Mouthfeel: A little thin, uneven, with random shots of effervescence. The sweetness also tends to leave a bit of a cloying, sticky film.

Drinkability: Thanks Dan? But seriously. This beer's not terrible, but it is by no means good, despite the good first impression. It's just a little too artificial, a little too estery, and a little too funky to be enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2009 21:45:44 | More by CrellMoset

Beejay

Virginia

3.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Very Yellow amber... Clear, bubbly with a white head that disappeared before I sat down.

S: Malty, a little bit of fruit in there.. Yeasty.. Smells a little like bread.

T: Nothing big to write about in this category. No big flavors coming through, light and slightly fruity.. Pretty generic..

M: Light, very carbonated..

D: I am sure you could pound a few down in a night, but why would you want to? There are so many better lagers for less money, and if you're going to spend the money, get Lion Stout. The Stout is superb, and this just does not live up to it's brother.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2009 00:55:03 | More by Beejay

nick76

Florida

3.43/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

The aroma is metallic and watery with a little bit of horse blanket as well as sweet malt and floral hops. The appearance is deep gold with haze and some floating particles. The head is small and sudsy. The flavor is in no way funky. Its strait malt and a touch of grass. I like it. The palate is not as watery as the aroma would suggest. It is smooth from carbonation. Overall this is one of the most refreshing and surprising lagers I have had in awhile.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2009 04:14:06 | More by nick76

jdhilt

New Hampshire

1.38/5  rDev -52.1%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Pours a three-finger white head that fades quickly leaving some lace. Crystal clear pale amber color. Light carbonation and light-medium bodied. Grassy nose. Flavor is pitiful - sweetish, watery, occasional hops, slight dry metallic finish. No improvement since I had this in April 2002. Didn't read the label (I know RTFL) thought I was buying Lion Stout which is excellent. $1.35 for a 330ml bottle from Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2009 23:21:27 | More by jdhilt

yesyouam

New York

3.33/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Lion Lager is sparkling and yellow with a fluffy, bubbly white head that leaves a bubble ring. The aroma is faint and a bit fruity-- maybe apple. It is medium, maybe medium-light bodied and a bit gritty. The flavor is grainy and mellow. It has a nice bitterness that comes off as grass or hay. It's refreshing and it was a great pick to session outside in the heat on a late July day.
(rated Aug 1, 2007)

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 21:18:12 | More by yesyouam

Tone

Missouri

2.35/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Weak golden color with little head and no lacing. Smells of a European lager (clean with a slight funk). Typical flavor, so it does fit the style. Light to average body that is slightly carbonated. Not as good as the original European lagers, but not horrible either.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2008 02:41:21 | More by Tone

pmcadamis

Illinois

1.88/5  rDev -34.7%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A - A one finger foamy head snaps, crackles, and pops it's way down to a very thin cap, leaving very little lace behind. This beer is perfectly clear, and is the color of the world as seen through blu-blocker sunglasses. The head is gone by the time I finished typing these first few lines, and I'm left with what looks like apple juice in a glass.

S - Actually, this smells a little bit like apple juice too. Or Apple Jacks cereal. Grainy, with a hint of apple skin tartness. Not altogether unpleasant, but its pretty mundane.

T - More assertive than the nose, this is still a pretty weak brew. It tastes like watered down apple juice, cereal grains, and tropical fruits that I can't put a finger on. Starfruit and kiwi?

M - Thin, super-carbonated, and very dry on the finish. This would be very thirst quenching on a hot day (today it's hovering just above freezing so I missed the window of opportunity for slaking a mean thirst with this one).

D - An slightly below average lager. Better and more flavorful than American macros, but not quite as good as most Asian or European style pale lagers. I could suck some of this back on a hot day though, so it does have some merit.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2008 20:41:45 | More by pmcadamis

ryantupy

Minnesota

3/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Well the stout is good so the Lager must be worht a shot, right? Well...

A - Pours a bright clear yellow color with plenty of bubbles racing to the top. Wait there is more than just bubbles floating around, there is some sediment to.

S - Hmmm...a balance of malt and hops with mild citrus. Not much here to write home to mom about.

T - About the same as above.

M - Smooth with a mild carbonation bite.

D - I guess you could drink plenty of these and not really know or feel it.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2008 19:00:06 | More by ryantupy

jwc215

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours golden with a frothy white head that lasts a decent amount of time. Not much lacing sticks.

The smell is of sweet grain with a touch of lime with typical EPL "skunkiness".

The taste is of sweet grain with Continental-type hops - floral spicing - to balance sweetness. A bit of oxidation/"wet cardboard" is noticeable, but restrained. It remains sweetish in character, but with some balance.

It is light bodied, towards fizzy.

An easy-drinking "thirst-quencher" that is "inoffensive".

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2008 01:30:44 | More by jwc215

BeerSox

Virginia

2.03/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

330ml bottle into pint glass.

Crysal clear deep golden hue with a very thin fizzy cap that quickly settles to almost nothing.

Very light and sugary aromas, not hops to speak of. Candy like.

Syrupy flavors again, with a little bit of fizzy carbonation. Light bodied. Only the slightest hint of bitterness from hops, but mostly drowned out by the sugar flavors. The sugar taste lingers for a bit.

So sweet and watery it's almost like soda. Not very enjoyable, and only slightly refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2008 00:42:46 | More by BeerSox