Lactose in Milk Stout

[steveng]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[robbym123]

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

Ditto - me too

 

[Buster]

Ditto - me too

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

 

[chub1]

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

Same here:thumb:

 

[Manxnorton]

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 it’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]

This has just made me realise I’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]

This has just made me realise I’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]

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]

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

 

[steveng]

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]

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]

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]

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]

This has just made me realise I’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 £2.00 for 340g

 

[Buster]

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]

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?