Paul Kushner
Milk stout beers, also known as sweet stouts, are a delicious and creamy style of beer that’s gaining popularity among craft beer enthusiasts. What sets milk stouts apart is the addition of lactose, a type of sugar derived from milk, which gives the beer a smooth and slightly sweet flavor. This unique ingredient also adds a velvety texture to the beer, making it a favorite among those who enjoy a rich and indulgent brew.
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If you have a sweet tooth and enjoy the taste of creamy, dessert-like beverages, milk stouts might be right up your alley. The combination of roasted malt flavors and the subtle sweetness from the lactose makes these beers a delightful treat for anyone looking to explore the sweeter side of craft beer.
Left Hand Milk Stout
Left Hand Milk Stout is the perfect beer to drink as a pick-me-up after a weekend lunch, as it carries notes of coffee, caramelized sugar, and roasted chocolate malt. I love this beer because it’s mellow and creamy, with a smooth finish that lingers without being too cloying. It’s one of my favorite milk stout beers of all time.
New Holland Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout
Vanilla, oak, coffee, and chocolate are the standout notes in New Holland Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel Stout. This beer is an excellent choice for bourbon lovers, as it packs a punch of flavor without being overbearing. And the smooth finish is especially enjoyable – perfect for sipping on during a cozy evening.
4 Hands Chocolate Milk Stout
If you’re a huge fan of chocolate milk like I am, you’ll be pleasantly surprised when drinking the 4 Hands Chocolate Milk Stout, a delectable beer. I appreciate its velvety feel on the tongue and its roasted barley notes that combine so well with the extreme chocolate flavor. This beer is excellent when you pair it with a raspberry dessert.
Stone Brewing Xocoveza
Stone Brewing Xocoveza was created with Mexican hot chocolate in mind, and it has a range of special tasting notes that make it so decadent. You’ll get hints of not only chocolate but also cinnamon, vanilla, coffee, nutmeg, and even peppers. The slight spiciness gives it an incredible kick that keeps me wanting more.
Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout
Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout has a beautiful mix of flavors that almost mimics the classic dessert. It has a smooth, velvety texture and notes of burnt sugar, vanilla beans, and roasted malt that I can’t help but love. And with an ABV of 10%, you’ll only need one to get the job done.
Saugatuck Neapolitan Milk Stout
When you combine vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, there’s always a fantastic result. And that’s precisely what the Saugatuck Neapolitan Milk Stout does so well. This award-winning beer is a delightful treat any time of the year, but I think it tastes best on summer or fall evenings, paired with a light late-night snack like peanuts.
Tree House I Will Not Be Afraid
Tree House I Will Not Be Afraid is a double milk imperial stout with a high ABV of 9.3% but an encouraging name that makes you want to try it anyway! Milk stouts are quite unique, so many people are afraid to give them a try. But if you like a strong pour and want to try something new, this beer is a great one to start with!
Duck Rabbit Milk Stout
Duck Rabbit Milk Stout is a sweet delight, with notes of chocolate and coffee that come together so perfectly. I love this beer for its heavily roasted flavor and creamy texture. It’s a great accompaniment to an afternoon snack, or you can enjoy it on its own any day of the week.
Terrapin Moo-Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout
I appreciate Terrapin Moo-Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout’s deep, inviting brown color and caramel chocolate flavor. This beer is an excellent choice for those who don’t mind a little sweetness and creaminess to their beer, and it pairs swimmingly with braised chicken and aged cheddar.
Firestone Walker Nitro Merlin
Firestone Walker Nitro Merlin Milk Stout is a smooth stout with notes of coffee, chocolate, caramel, and toasted marshmallows. The nitro adds a nice creamy texture, making it especially enjoyable when you pour it over ice cream for a slightly sweet and savory dessert.
Lakewood Brewing The Temptress
Lakewood Brewing has several milk stouts in their extensive beer list, including the Nu Temptress with hazelnuts, Sin Mint Temptress with a minty touch, French Quarter Temptress with barrel-aged coffee notes, and Double Stuffed Temptress infused with chocolate sandwich cookies. But the original Temptress, with notes of chocolate and caramel, is still my ultimate favorite of the bunch!
Wiseacre Gotta Get Up To Get Down
Wiseacre Gotta Get Up To Get Down is a lovely, silky, inviting coffee stout with roasted nuts and blueberry notes. It’s an especially great choice for those who appreciate a darker beer but still enjoy a bit of fruitiness in every sip.
Mast Landing Gunner’s Daughter
If you’re a fan of peanut butter, you’ll love the Mast Landing Gunner’s Daughter. It’s a well-balanced milk stout that combines notes of peanut butter, dark chocolate, and coffee. Plus, with a session-able ABV of 5.5%, you can drink two or three of this delicious dessert-like drink without feeling too full.
Flying Monkeys The Chocolate Manifesto
Flying Monkeys The Chocolate Manifesto is a magnificent triple chocolate milk stout that incorporates three different types of chocolate flavor – raw cacao nibs, cacao powder, and chocolate malt. The result is quite dreamy, making it a perfect post-dinner dessert beverage that everyone at the table will want another sip of.
Bell’s Arabicadabra
Bell’s Arabicadabra is quite intense, but that’s why I love it. It has a potent coffee flavor with chocolate to back it up and an overall full-bodied flavor. Its 5.5% ABV makes it a great after-dinner beer, and while it’s certainly full-flavored, it’s also incredibly drinkable.
Tree House Moment Of Clarity
Tree House Moment Of Clarity Milk Stout is a balanced beer with notes of chocolate and amber maple syrup that all come through quite nicely. This one is an incredibly smooth and fluffy beer with a creamy texture and mid-tier ABV of 7.7% that makes it easy to drink two but also perfect to drink if you just want one.
Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout
Like Mast Landing Gunner’s Daughter, Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout is an excellent choice for loyal peanut butter fans. I love sipping this peanut butter and dark chocolate-infused beer alongside a deliciously savory meal like steak and potatoes.
Hardywood Park Kentucky Christmas Morning
If you’re into spiced flavor profiles for your milk stouts, check out Hardywood Park Kentucky Christmas Morning. It combines the creaminess of standard milk stouts with hints of ginger, spices, and honey for a truly complex and dynamic result that’s hard to resist.
Untitled Art Cookies and Cream
Cookies and Cream from Untitled Art brewery is one of my favorite milk stout beers because it tastes so similar to cookies and cream ice cream or cake. I love the vanilla cream and chocolate icing notes, as well as the foamy mouth feel and decadent, sweet finish. It’s truly the perfect dessert beer.
Wicked Weed Milk & Cookies
Wicked Weed Milk & Cookies is another complex dessert-type beer I love to drink after a big lunch or dinner. It has a delicious malt flavor, with notes of chocolate chip cookies and hints of brown sugar. Definitely try this one if you’re looking for something that tastes like dessert but isn’t overly sweet.
