Learning the origin of a particular style of beer often divulges an account of the human past. Sri Lanka doesn't have a lengthy indigenous beer making tradition; the inhabitants dabbled more in distilling coconut booze. But colonization by Portugal, Netherlands, and the British Empire, and eventual classification as an overseas British territory brought a unique sort of brew to the South Asian island nation. Like Otter Creek's Otter Mon Jamaican Stout, the basic characteristics of Ceylon Brewery's Lion Stout make it of the foreign/export variety. Brewed with increased strength to survive overseas voyages and tropical climates, it's sweeter than a typical English, American, or dry Irish stout and more subdued than an imperial stout.
This article appears in May 27 – Jun 2, 2009.
