Lion Stout

More widely known for crisp, refreshing lagers, tropical climes also host a number of breweries producing substantial ales, notably Foreign Extra Stout. Lion Brewery Ceylon, headquartered in Sri Lanka, produces the widely acclaimed Lion Stout, which packs a respectable 8/8% ABV. Rife with lush aromas of freshly brewed coffee, sultry Crème de Cacao, and succulent pineapple, this beer’s nose is at once inviting yet daunting to the uninitiated. Pete zeroed in on the slightly boozy alcohol permeating the nose, but picked out hints of “Tahitian vanilla laced with caramel and rum raisin,” praising the finessed balance. The alcohol kick jumped out at Tim, too, but he pushed past it to dredge up hints of “roasted nuts and extra strong espresso.” As expected, this beer is black-hole dark, with no light escaping its grasp, topped by a billowing tan head that refuses to die. Flavors mirror the intense aroma profile, alive with alternating waves of ripe fruit, coffee, and caramel. Rick found a pleasant molasses tang floating over the big alcohol base, and truly enjoyed the “Mocha Whip” malt notes. Tom felt the roasted malt nearly tamed the alcohol, noting the beer was “almost an Imperial Stout.” Like Rick, he praised the complex roast and caramel malt flavors. Equally suited for cold winter nights or steaming rain forest summer days, Lion Stout would be at home in any discerning beer drinker’s stash.