Beer blogger Adam Shugan is still on his virtual world tour, tasting beers from just about everywhere.

I have traveled to Biyagama, Sri Lanka in my virtual expedition of beer.  I was very happy to find this unique brew at the ABC in Gainesville on Newberry road and it is a stout to boot!  The brewery: Ceylon/Lion Brewery Limited, the beer: Lion Stout. 

It is a foreign export stout, which is a style I relish for its full body and richness.  I wrote about the
delightful Guinness Foreign Extra Stout many moons ago.

Appearance: serving it slightly chilled to capture the full flavor profile in my Guinness tumbler. The bottle depicts a full mane alpha male lion barreling toward me in suspended animation.  On the back label is a portrait of the late and great beer writer, Michael Jackson (he is sort of my idol).  He gives a quote featuring his own tasting notes. It pours a dark cocoa brown with a massive turbulent head almost like it was in a nitro bottle.  As it ebbs, it leaves a nice lacing on the sides of the glass

Smell:   Roasty and creamy with a hints of dark cocoa powder and plum.  It is an intoxicating aroma.

Taste: Smoky with a fresh brewed espresso essence and a twang of mocha leading to a silky finish. 
It is uber drinkable despite its 8% ABV.

Bravo, Sri Lanka, for making such a savory stout and sneaking it into the states right under my nose. You do not see Foreign Extra Stouts too often, either.  Ask your local ABC beer guru if he or she can get it to a store near you... then turn to the dark seidel ;).

Adam Shugan is the store manager at our Silver Springs Blvd store in Ocala.