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(Sinha) Lion Stout

Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 5:56 pm
by pootz
Finally got around to sample this foreign stout...at is certainly one of the best stouts I have tasted for drinkability and mellow yet complex taste...great stuff. I will be removing the avialable stock from the local LCBO as the stock levels seem to be limited.

Wasn't there there some buzz a while back about the beer store carrying it as a stocked import?

Re: (Sinha) Lion Stout

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 1:50 pm
by GregClow
pootz wrote:Wasn't there there some buzz a while back about the beer store carrying it as a stocked import?
There was some miscommunication when the availablity of this beer was first announced, saying that it would be a Beer Store product, when in fact it is (I believe) LCBO-only.

And I agree with your assessment of the beer. It's a fantastic stout, one of my favourites of the style.

Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:09 pm
by Belgian
I had one again last night and, forget the low price, this bottle of Sinha(Lion) Stout rivalled the St. Bernardus Abt 12 I had the other week for sheer flavor.

Fantastically deep-flavored wih chocolate and coffee nuances, I don't know how they make this much flavor with just barley malt.

Is this a permanent item or can we expect it to vanish like so many other LCBO brainchilds? Should we hoard or not?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:22 am
by BeverageAcademy
I have a great fondness for stouts... Where is this one from? Which do you consider the best from Canada? My favs are Fuller's London Porter and Murphy's Irish Stout but am looking into Macauslan's and Wellington... Any others?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:29 am
by SteelbackGuy
Belgian wrote:
Is this a permanent item or can we expect it to vanish like so many other LCBO brainchilds? Should we hoard or not?
I hear ya........which is why I have picked up SEVERAL bottles to put away. It's pretty good value too, something like $1.80 for a bottle.

Also just a side note, Rldenback Grand Cru is on sale here at all of the London LCBO locations. They are $1.50 each. So perhaps this sale will hit any Toronto stores that have any left from the fall?



CHeers

Len

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:49 am
by BeverageAcademy
A fellow Londoner, awesome! I didn't see it at the Covent Market location but their selection is pretty slim.... Where's your fav tap selection in the city?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:55 am
by SteelbackGuy
My favourite place to go is the ALex P Keaton, located on Talbot Street.
The tap selection right now is as follows:

Mill STreet Stock ALe
Schnider Weisse Hefe
Warstiner Dunkel
Steamwhistle
Headstrong
St AMbroise Oatmeal Stout

And some others


Their bottle selection has not been great the last few times I have been, though I do know they have some stuff from Marsdeous that I havent tried.

Sorry to go off topic...........

ID like to see Lion Stout on tap!

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:03 pm
by BeverageAcademy
I haven't been there yet... Where is the Lion Stout from? Never heard of it.... Murphy's Irish Stout has been hard to find but Fuller's Porter has been doing a great job in replacement... I really am interested in finding how the Macauslan's tastes and how it compares....
I remember not liking the Iron Duke (not a real stout) too much, but want to try Wellington's other stout....

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:06 pm
by GregClow
BeverageAcademy wrote:I have a great fondness for stouts... Where is this one from?
Sinha Stout is from Sri Lanka. It is known as Lion Stout there and in most other countries, but the name had to be changed for the Canadian market for some reason.
BeverageAcademy wrote:Which do you consider the best from Canada? My favs are Fuller's London Porter and Murphy's Irish Stout but am looking into Macauslan's and Wellington... Any others?
McAuslan Oatmeal and Wellington Imperial are definately Canada's top two stouts in my mind. Not that there is a lot of competition in these parts, as they are the only two domestic stouts that are readily available at the LCBO or Beer Store.

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:10 pm
by GregClow
BeverageAcademy wrote:I remember not liking the Iron Duke (not a real stout) too much, but want to try Wellington's other stout....
Wellington has never claimed that Iron Duke is a "real stout" (as opposed to a "fake stout"?) - it's a strong ale, and always has been.

They also made an Iron Duke Porter at one point, so perhaps you were thinking of that when you tried the ale and expected a stout?

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:20 pm
by BeverageAcademy
It was quite a while ago (probably about 8 years ago), I just remember liking a lot of Wellington beers (mostly ales) a lot and not really enjoying the Iron Duke nor the Upper Canada Rebellion dark. True, not stouts....
I think I do recall the Iron Duke Porter so you could be absolutely correct, but just not too sure what it was like....
My favourite breweries are Niagara Falls Brewery and Unibroue so perhaps they can add to the Canadian line of stouts....

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:51 pm
by GregClow
BeverageAcademy wrote:My favourite breweries are Niagara Falls Brewery and Unibroue so perhaps they can add to the Canadian line of stouts....
Niagara used to make a stout called Brock's Extra Stout that was quite good if I recall correctly. It was dropped a few years ago, though, and it doesn't seem like something that will be brought back under Moosehead's ownership.

As for Unibroue, since they brew primarily Belgian-style beers, I can't really see them doing a stout - although I'd love to see them try it, simply because I'm sure they'd put an interesting twist on the style.

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 1:24 pm
by old faithful
"Terrible" is like a strong stout in many ways. Its touch of anise spice is reminiscent of similar spicing in porter and strong porter in the 1800's. At 10% abv or so the beer ends up being one version of an Imperial Stout, even if not so styled or promoted. 10% is strong for me. I usually break it down with good spring water to 6% or 7% and it's very good. I would think this beer is top-fermented, too, and gains in authenticity from that in terms of a stout palate.

Gary

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 7:18 pm
by Manul
Don't take this the wrong way Gary, but La Terrible has absolutely nothing in common with any stout on this planet. As for watering down beer you don't want to know what I think about that. :( Couldn't help myself...

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 7:57 pm
by Belgian
GregClow wrote:
BeverageAcademy wrote:I remember not liking the Iron Duke (not a real stout) too much, but want to try Wellington's other stout....
Wellington has never claimed that Iron Duke is a "real stout" (as opposed to a "fake stout"?) - it's a strong ale, and always has been.

They also made an Iron Duke Porter at one point, so perhaps you were thinking of that when you tried the ale and expected a stout?
Wellington Russian Imperial Stout is well worth a try, I think it's 8% abv. Not an extreme stout but certainly leaning to the fuller flavored. I feel the Iron Duke is lighter, and the Dark Ale is an excellent refreshing brown for a hot summer day.

I haven't warmed up to Wellington's pale beers yet!