Surprised I was. I pop into the government store looking for kookoo juice and what do I find? A beer I have not seen before. And from Sri Lanka as well. Excellence. I like these dark beers called foreign stouts. Last fall I reviewed another, Royal Extra Stout from Trindad, which is the same sort of thing from the Caribbean. At 8.0% this is hefty enough to called an imperial stout but there is no massive coffee urn lick of roast, no mega hop. Just round and rich. Kinda like milt stout on nitro.
Sinha Stout by the Lion Brewery Ceylon Limited has a massively mocha chord, coffee ice cream lacing a-plenty over a jet black brew. When first poured, the head is lumpy like beige ski moguls. In the mouth there is plenty of sub-minty bitter hops and bitter chocolate coffee malt. It goes on forever without turning this way or that until it opens into a lingering sweetness. Loverly.
Comments
Knut Albert Solem - September 5, 2005 4:23 am
It is in the "300 beers to try before you die" book - one of the very few Asian brews.
Knut Albert Solem - September 5, 2005 7:33 am
But what is kookoo juice, Alan?
Alan - September 5, 2005 9:16 am
A friend's nickname for red wine. I leave the partaking of that now pretty much to others.
Matthew - September 9, 2005 3:54 pm
Another great one is--or was--Belikin stout from Belize. I have not seen it in years. Nice to know there is a Trinidadian stout to watch for.
MJ included the Lion in his beer-of-the-month club a few years ago. And I was able to find it recently in a store here (San Diego area) for the first time. Great stuff.
Glenn - October 20, 2005 1:14 am
I have been drinking Sinha for a couple of years now and its inclusion in the '300 beers to drink before you die' doesn't surprise me. An excellent strong stout.
Elisa (italia) - December 7, 2006 10:30 am
hello from Italy your blog is very nice
seward currie - June 11, 2007 6:12 pm
just love this stout. been drinking it for 3 years now
suziequzie - October 21, 2007 10:14 pm
I have not tried this beer, *yet*. I have a bottle waiting for me. The nice gentleman at the beer store saw my other selections, and recommended this one to me. He said it would go very well with a nice thick juicy fatty burger, so I'm gonna cook one up tomorrow and crack it open then.
Rob D - October 22, 2007 1:33 am
i just drank a bottle and found this site well googling some info on the beer. it's a very good beer, and even though it has a higher alcohal content then alot of beers it's very smooth. i'd definitely purchase it again although i wish it was available in a larger size like a 500ml can.
Nic Carvalho - March 12, 2008 3:29 pm
Yes, Sinha is definitely a keeper. Do you know how it is made? Some Sri Lankan guy, (Pio Sebastianpillani) was explaining it to me... the put a bag around this fruit on the tree, and it ferments up there, producing the beer whilst on the tree! Simply amazing! And that might explain the little particles I found in mines...
Nelson - March 27, 2008 7:04 pm
I'm currently drinking Sinha Stout which I bought here in Montreal at the SAQ. I find it takes a bit of getting used to but over all very good. You can defiantly taste the strong bitter chocolate coffee malt.
David - March 31, 2008 2:55 am
Does anyone have an all grain recipe for this beer. I can't seem to find anything and I can't believe anyone has not wanted to brew this fine beer. Thanks all.
IslandCricket - September 25, 2008 3:55 pm
I have had this beer sitting on the beach in western Sri Lanka watching the sunset..blessed enough to do it nearly every evening with my mates for 5 years straight. I then moved to north america. Of course in Sri Lanka it is called Lion Stout beer.
Off topic> Sri Lanka also produces what is commonly known as Coconut whiskey (Arrack) and Coconut Rum, The dark red rum with coke and a slice of Lime (not lemon) reminds you of a warm sunny beach!
Scott - March 10, 2009 8:28 am
Yes, I too am looking for an all-grain recipe for this excellent stout! Anyone?...