Lactose in Milk Stout

steveng · Oct 18, 2017

I'm about to start brewing a milk stout (BIAB) in a couple of days and am just wondering, what are your thoughts about when to add the lactose? I've seen some conflicting opinions online about this.

Thanks,

Steven

johnnyboy1965 · Oct 18, 2017

Lactose is a non fermentable sugar, so doesnt really matter when you add it. Ive had excellent results by adding at the bottling/kegging stage, for a little sweetness.

steveng · Oct 18, 2017

Ah, that's good to know. I was veering towards a suggestion of adding it 15 minutes from the end of boil but if it doesn't matter I'll not stress about it!

m_rawdin · Oct 18, 2017

I tend to put mine in about 15 mins before the end of the boil

robbym123 · Oct 18, 2017

m_rawdin said:
I tend to put mine in about 15 mins before the end of the boil

Ditto - me too

Buster · Oct 18, 2017

robbym123 said:
Ditto - me too

That is what I have always done, funky green colour too. :whistle:

chub1 · Oct 18, 2017

m_rawdin said:
I tend to put mine in about 15 mins before the end of the boil

Same here:thumb:

Manxnorton · Oct 18, 2017

Same here...once though! As you know my brain only works after I done anything!
Forgot I added to the boil and desolved more just befor bottling but itÃ¢â¬â¢s was bloody lush!
That was the time I found out the lastoce final readings went to 1.20 every time...forgot why lol
Bri

DoctorMick · Oct 18, 2017

This has just made me realise IÃ¢â¬â¢m meant to be brewing a milk stout next week and I forgot to include lactose in my last order. Do any high street shops sell it?

BeerCat · Oct 18, 2017

DoctorMick said:
This has just made me realise IÃ¢â¬â¢m meant to be brewing a milk stout next week and I forgot to include lactose in my last order. Do any high street shops sell it?

I have not found any but you can get it for around 17quid for 2kg of eBay.

m_rawdin · Oct 18, 2017

Oh just as a side note my milk stout has been in the keg for about 2 months and tastes better than it did after I first kegged it.

Thumper · Oct 19, 2017

I've never even tried a milk stout. Can anyone recommend a good one commercially available in the UK?

steveng · Oct 19, 2017

Guinness do one that I seem to recall is quite good, although I'm no expert on Milk Stout. I only tried it because I made one a while back with DME and some steeped grains and I tried that Guinness one to compare. I thought mine was better tbh :lol:

anders · Oct 19, 2017

Thumper said:
I've never even tried a milk stout. Can anyone recommend a good one commercially available in the UK?

Brewdog Jet Black Heart is really nice

Buster · Oct 19, 2017

Thumper said:
I've never even tried a milk stout. Can anyone recommend a good one commercially available in the UK?

Mackeson has been around for years, think it dates back to 1907 when it was brewed at the Mackeson Brewery in Hythe, Kent but I think they got bought out by Whitbreads in 1929. I think the Hythe Brewery finished in 1968. I'm not sure who brews it now but it is still available to buy in most supermarkets.There is also a good recipe for it in Clone Brews page 270.

Thumper · Oct 20, 2017

Thanks all. I may try one of each suggested, just to make sure I give the style a fair shot. All in the name of science, you understand!

johnnyboy1965 · Oct 20, 2017

DoctorMick said:
This has just made me realise IÃ¢â¬â¢m meant to be brewing a milk stout next week and I forgot to include lactose in my last order. Do any high street shops sell it?

Tesco Semi-Skimmed Milk Powder ÃÂ£2.00 for 340g

Buster · Oct 20, 2017

Its fair to say that it also contains Maltodextrin as well as Lactose. In a 25 litre brew I would use 500mg of Lactose and 250mg of Maltodextrin.

jceg316 · Oct 20, 2017

Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout is one of my favourite stouts, although I'm not sure how readily available it is outside of the Euston Tap or Bristol.

I add lactose either at the beginning of the boil or 10-15 mins towards the end, it doesn't really make a difference.

On a side note, when buying lactose from a HBS, does anyone know if it's actually distilled from cows' milk or is it made in a lab?

Lactose in Milk Stout

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