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Lion Stout
Ceylon / Lion Brewery Limited
- From:
- Ceylon / Lion Brewery Limited
- Sri Lanka
- Style:
- Foreign / Export Stout
Ranked #24 - ABV:
- 8.8%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #14,980 - Avg:
- 3.91 | pDev: 11.76%
- Reviews:
- 933
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Wednesday at 11:27 PM
- Added:
- Jul 28, 2001
- Wants:
- 83
- Gots:
- 155
The dark caramel, large dense headed brew, with its 8.8% alcoholic content, is unique due to its sweet notes of chocolate and coffee interspersed into a foundation of dark roasted barley. Symbolic black to denote leadership, power, focus and strength, is dominant in the labeling as the lion journeys in the twilight unafraid, unbowed and unchallenged.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
4.17/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
500 ml can poured into a Spiegelau wheat beer glass.
BB: SEP 2024
L: Dark brown, oily on the glass, 1” tan head, foam has good retention, leaves bits of lace,
S: Robust chocolate malt, notes of roasted malts and smoke, earthy hops coming through as the head settles.
T: More sharp and roasty than the nose indicates, lesser chocolate and caramel malt flavor, a bit of char at the roasty, moderately bitter finish.
F: Medium bodied, smooth and somewhat viscous, enough carbonation to give it a minor finishing bite
O: Solid and enjoyable example.
Wednesday at 11:27 PMBB: SEP 2024
L: Dark brown, oily on the glass, 1” tan head, foam has good retention, leaves bits of lace,
S: Robust chocolate malt, notes of roasted malts and smoke, earthy hops coming through as the head settles.
T: More sharp and roasty than the nose indicates, lesser chocolate and caramel malt flavor, a bit of char at the roasty, moderately bitter finish.
F: Medium bodied, smooth and somewhat viscous, enough carbonation to give it a minor finishing bite
O: Solid and enjoyable example.
Reviewed by teromous from Virginia
3.5/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.5/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From the bottom of the can: "230 90 52258 BB : OCT 2025"
Appearance: It has a black body with a large tan head. The can states that this is "8.8%" and for a beer that high in ABV the head looks amazing. It has excellent head retention and when it eventually does start to recede, it leaves thick rings of lacing on the glass.
Aroma: There isn't much aroma here. There is a light bit of what smells like a dried candied prune.
Taste: Carbon comes through up front with a strong charred note and hints of black coffee. There is a bit of burnt caramel flavor. Heavily kilned malts linger on the palate into the aftertaste. It is a pretty simple tasting beer but it is nice.
Mouthfeel: It is on the lighter side and it drinks a lot like a Dry Irish Stout. Although the ABV is listed as "8.8%" (as indicated by the can) it shows no negative signs of high alcohol, which is worth mentioning.
Overall: It is a pretty simple but well-made beer. It definitely fits the Foreign Export Stout category and it is both easy and enjoyable to drink. I could drink it again and I would recommend it. I would definitely buy it again.
Jan 07, 2024Appearance: It has a black body with a large tan head. The can states that this is "8.8%" and for a beer that high in ABV the head looks amazing. It has excellent head retention and when it eventually does start to recede, it leaves thick rings of lacing on the glass.
Aroma: There isn't much aroma here. There is a light bit of what smells like a dried candied prune.
Taste: Carbon comes through up front with a strong charred note and hints of black coffee. There is a bit of burnt caramel flavor. Heavily kilned malts linger on the palate into the aftertaste. It is a pretty simple tasting beer but it is nice.
Mouthfeel: It is on the lighter side and it drinks a lot like a Dry Irish Stout. Although the ABV is listed as "8.8%" (as indicated by the can) it shows no negative signs of high alcohol, which is worth mentioning.
Overall: It is a pretty simple but well-made beer. It definitely fits the Foreign Export Stout category and it is both easy and enjoyable to drink. I could drink it again and I would recommend it. I would definitely buy it again.
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina
4.01/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look: It pours black with a brown head. Head retention is very good.
Smell: It has roasted aromas with some chocolate notes. There are some faint coffee elements with an earthen quality.
Taste: The flavors feature roasted malts with coffee with some light chocolate qualites. There are hints of smoke and earthen elements.
Feel: It has a smooth texture with an aftertaste that is balance towards the bitter side.
Overall, a nice blend of darker malts.
Dec 26, 2023Smell: It has roasted aromas with some chocolate notes. There are some faint coffee elements with an earthen quality.
Taste: The flavors feature roasted malts with coffee with some light chocolate qualites. There are hints of smoke and earthen elements.
Feel: It has a smooth texture with an aftertaste that is balance towards the bitter side.
Overall, a nice blend of darker malts.
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington
4.17/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing nearly opaque in the glass with a two finger milk chocolate head with great retention and solid lacing, looks nice. Aroma of dark toasted malt, chocolate, light coffee and lactose. Flavor is dark toasted malt, milk and bakers chocolate, nuts and a little coffee; faint wisps of dark fruit and mild lactose sweetness. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. What a pleasant surprise, this is a very solid, full flavored foreign export stout. The flavor profile fits that style quite closely except with a faint sweetness, but the malt is mostly dry and roasty. Flavor is a bit more complex than expected with mild dark fruit notes and hints of lactose that add some interest to the solid, to-style export stout malt. I did not expect Sri Lanka to be producing such a deep flavored beer, but the British influence in brewing seems to have hung on here in a satisfactory way. I would definitely try other styles from this brewery (as well as buying this again) if I saw them. Oddly, this is imported by a nearby Washington importer, but I've never seen it here; this can came from California. Nicely done.
Nov 30, 2023Reviewed by GlenFarclas from Connecticut
4.3/5 rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Lively, fluffy head, no light bleed, cola.
Nose is chocolate and coffee, roast malt, brown sugar, toffee, prunes.
Taste is clean, and oddly both robust and mild. Bitterness upfront and all throughout. This is not sweet. Pronounced oiliness too. Dark fruits and roast malt. Simple as that. Quite a tasty beer. And I suspect can conditioned? There’s a yeast character like one finds in English ales.
Oh I’ve got it, this is the (international) domestic brother of alchemist - luscious. Cheers!
Aug 06, 2023Nose is chocolate and coffee, roast malt, brown sugar, toffee, prunes.
Taste is clean, and oddly both robust and mild. Bitterness upfront and all throughout. This is not sweet. Pronounced oiliness too. Dark fruits and roast malt. Simple as that. Quite a tasty beer. And I suspect can conditioned? There’s a yeast character like one finds in English ales.
Oh I’ve got it, this is the (international) domestic brother of alchemist - luscious. Cheers!
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan
4.17/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured stout black with a comfortable and sustaining light brown head.
The aroma was sadly lost on my Covid damaged nose.
The taste was well roasted malts with coffee and cacao and dark fruit; an excellent foreign export example.
The feel was appropriately mouth filling; not chewy at all, but you could almost feel the heft of the flavors.
OA, for times when I want a real stout that isn't barrel aged and isn't a 5% barley pop, this will fit the bill.
Aug 01, 2023The aroma was sadly lost on my Covid damaged nose.
The taste was well roasted malts with coffee and cacao and dark fruit; an excellent foreign export example.
The feel was appropriately mouth filling; not chewy at all, but you could almost feel the heft of the flavors.
OA, for times when I want a real stout that isn't barrel aged and isn't a 5% barley pop, this will fit the bill.
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas
4.15/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance- The beer pours a deep brown, nearly black color with a huge head of brown colored foam. The head has a great level retention, fading slowly over time and leaving a modest level of streaky lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is huge of a toasted and roasted malt smell mixed with a notes of cocoa nibs and a hint of coffee. Along with these smells comes molasses and some toffee as well as a bit of cola and nut. Overall, dark roasty and inviting.
Taste – The taste begins with a nice smooth, dark roasted and toasted malt flavor with a coffee and light molasses taste. Along with these flavors comes notes of a light nut and a bit cola. As the taste moves forward, hints of cocoa and a bit more roast and toast come to the taste profile, all at the expense of some of the sweeter tastes. At the same time the nut and coffee get a bit stronger, and in the end, leave one with a smooth and dark, toasty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew creamy and thick with a lower carbonation level. Very well done for the style and the flavors and a nice easy sipper.
Overall – With all the crazy additives people are tossing in stouts now adays, this was a refreshing switch up. A well rounded, and very flavorful and smooth foreign stout with a great
Jul 22, 2023Appearance- The beer pours a deep brown, nearly black color with a huge head of brown colored foam. The head has a great level retention, fading slowly over time and leaving a modest level of streaky lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is huge of a toasted and roasted malt smell mixed with a notes of cocoa nibs and a hint of coffee. Along with these smells comes molasses and some toffee as well as a bit of cola and nut. Overall, dark roasty and inviting.
Taste – The taste begins with a nice smooth, dark roasted and toasted malt flavor with a coffee and light molasses taste. Along with these flavors comes notes of a light nut and a bit cola. As the taste moves forward, hints of cocoa and a bit more roast and toast come to the taste profile, all at the expense of some of the sweeter tastes. At the same time the nut and coffee get a bit stronger, and in the end, leave one with a smooth and dark, toasty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew creamy and thick with a lower carbonation level. Very well done for the style and the flavors and a nice easy sipper.
Overall – With all the crazy additives people are tossing in stouts now adays, this was a refreshing switch up. A well rounded, and very flavorful and smooth foreign stout with a great
Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut
4.06/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Absolutely beautiful pour. Luscious, thick head that hangs out.
No noticeable smell.
Nice smooth taste. Nothing exceptional, but very solid.
Worth having, reasonably priced.
Jan 29, 2023No noticeable smell.
Nice smooth taste. Nothing exceptional, but very solid.
Worth having, reasonably priced.
Reviewed by AzfromOz from Australia
4.26/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.26/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Purchased at Beer 360 in Richmond, a suburb of Melbourne, in Australia.
A jet black beer with ruby highlights where the light reflects from the glass. Head is tan and thin, yet persistent.
Aroma is mild with maybe the slightest hint of sweetness. I expected more.
Taste is salty, dark, sweet chocolate. There's some lightly burnt caramel in there too. Alcohol warmth is pleasant.
Mouthfeel is silky smooth and exactly as imagined when looking at the beer.
All in all, this is an excellent beer.
Cheers!
Apr 24, 2022A jet black beer with ruby highlights where the light reflects from the glass. Head is tan and thin, yet persistent.
Aroma is mild with maybe the slightest hint of sweetness. I expected more.
Taste is salty, dark, sweet chocolate. There's some lightly burnt caramel in there too. Alcohol warmth is pleasant.
Mouthfeel is silky smooth and exactly as imagined when looking at the beer.
All in all, this is an excellent beer.
Cheers!
Lion Stout from Ceylon / Lion Brewery Limited
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
1691 ratings
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