Lionshead Malt Liquor
Lion Brewery, Inc.

 

From a 22 oz., clear glass, screw-cap bottle (I believe their only package for this brand).

Oddly hazy, Lionshead Malt Liquor pours a yellow-amber robe beneath a short head of white foam that holds well, buoyed by the rising, tiny, effervescent bubbles from beneath. Interestingly enough, it also leaves some very nice rings and sheets of lace about the glass. (I think without question, that this offers the best head retention and lacing I've ever seen).

The nose expresses sweet grainy malt and a suggestion of hops.

In the mouth it's tiny bubbles tickle the tongue... just lightly crisp, because of its dextrinous medium-body and restrained carbonation.

The flavor is just as the nose suggests, with malt dominating throughout, and just a hint of hops threaded through. However, it's clear in the flavor that there's a lot more adjunct in use than the aroma lets on. The bitterness is restrained, and yet it's not overtly sweet like some other examples. The alcohol is also quite well-cloaked, and until you've passed at least 10 oz. it's almost completely invisible.

Overall, except for the haze, this is a beautiful glass of beer with more color than most malt liquors offer, and a far better head retention. And I'd guess that perhaps I simply had a bad bottle, but I sought out a clear one at several locations and all of them looked the same. The nose was nice as well, and alcohol was nowhere to be found. However, I also wonder if what I had was a bad example because sometimes oxidation can lead to those nice, grainy malt notes in the aroma. Additionally, the flavor was nice because the alcohol was very well restrained, and it was a bit grainy, rather than completely adjunct ridden. Finally, many malt liquors are either too sweet or to awash in alcohol, but the Lionshead offers a very nice balance. It reminded me of some of the better made, strong Russian lagers. Very nice!!!

Lionshead is terrible. They don't even make this in 40s because even the thought of this assmalt getting warm is too much to bear! I took about two gulps of this before tossing it. "American Malt Liquor" is a style I appreciate, but not this one. Avoid.

Poured with a standing, foamy, white head on top of a dark gold, dingy looking beer. Smelled like a stinky, cooked veggie, super adjunct nose. Sweet, cooked corn flavor and nothing in the way of hops. A tiny bit of husk lingers into the sweet finish. Medium body and low carbonation makes this ideal for sucking down if you don't mind the creamed corn flavor. We all know malt liquor is good for only one thing, and this one is no different.

Now that I have tried it, down the drain it goes!