Ceylon Brewery, the producer of Lion Stout, has been in operation since 1881. As a former British outpost, Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon at the time) had a wealth of British soldiers around but little in the way of beer production. Ceylon capitalized on the opportunity and began brewing beers the Englishmen knew well--namely lager and stout.
According to beer reviews (I haven't had a chance to get my hands on the stout yet), Lion Stout tastes and smells like a Russian Imperial and Irish Dry hybrid. Lion has a creamy texture and espresso/chocolate flavors, which hint of its Irish influences. However, its high alcohol percentage (8%) that comes through in the aftertaste and dark fruit notes that emerge after the initial sip suggest Ceylon also mirrors a Russian Imperial.
Lion Stout's bottle features a picture and an endorsement from "Beer Hunter" Michael Jackson, a highly-reputable beer reviewer. Jackson wrote on his Web site that his journey to Ceylon Brewery for the stout made for his strangest trip to date.
Finding a quality stout in Sri Lanka no doubt counts as strange. Ireland, England and Russia each have their own conceptions of what a stout should taste, smell and feel like. The big three's reliance on what they know best leaves the door open for other breweries in the world to be more innovative and original.
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