Lion Lager - Ceylon / Lion Brewery Limited

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

Todd

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 625ml dark brown bottle. Best Before Aug 2001. Hmm ...

Appearance: Crystal clear golden beer with active large bubbled carbonation and a quick to die white foam head.

Smell: Metallic, grain, sulfur / skunky aroma.

Taste: A very thin beer, with a soft and smooth light-body. Malt flavours are pretty much non-existant up-front with just a touch of grain in the flavour. Hops are refreshing, lemony, with a touch of lime, some salty flavours and a slightly spicy herbal character. As the beer warms you can taste the cooked corn/veggie flavours of adjuncts and some dextrin sweetness. Finish is clean with light residual hop flavours and a touch of sweet corn.

Notes: An okay lager. Let it warm a bit. It's worth a try, but there are plenty of better ones out there to taste ... and at least Michael Jackson's endorsement isn't all of this one, like their Stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2001 14:55:22 | More by Todd

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

Sparky44

Illinois

3/5  rDev +4.2%

03-26-2013 00:53:31 | More by Sparky44

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -4.5%

03-08-2013 23:22:12 | More by ejimhof

cliff1066

Virginia

3/5  rDev +4.2%

02-09-2013 04:42:49 | More by cliff1066

matjack85

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -4.5%

01-29-2013 14:15:53 | More by matjack85

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

2.5/5  rDev -13.2%

12-31-2012 00:35:40 | More by Damian74Shensky

zonker17

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +21.5%

07-12-2012 11:34:34 | More by zonker17

djwhit24

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +21.5%

06-21-2012 01:49:48 | More by djwhit24

TheMadStork

3/5  rDev +4.2%

04-28-2012 15:31:37 | More by TheMadStork

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

OldTime

Georgia

2.5/5  rDev -13.2%

04-08-2012 19:15:41 | More by OldTime

dugly2ugly

Virginia

3/5  rDev +4.2%

02-17-2012 01:52:59 | More by dugly2ugly

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

ChLa

Sweden

5/5  rDev +73.6%

01-22-2012 21:38:35 | More by ChLa

jak

North Carolina

3/5  rDev +4.2%

12-29-2011 16:16:06 | More by jak

tbeq00

California

3/5  rDev +4.2%

12-13-2011 20:26:07 | More by tbeq00

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