These past few months we've been talking about stout styles, especially stouts . In this article we explain everything to you about Dry Stouts , the most typical beers in Ireland. Today we bring you another very surprising style as well: the milk beer that does not contain milk (and that doctors prescribed)
The Sweet Stout, also known as Milk Stout (“Milk Stout”), is a traditional style of beer of British origin, in which a low or moderate bitterness and some nuances of coffee and chocolate come together , within a black beer. of a gently sweet overall profile.
The beer that fed (and doctors prescribed)
In the 19th century, some brewers mixed dark beers with milk for increased nutrition and a smoother taste. But also, with this mixture, brewers could promote their product as something healthy.
The idea worked, and this style of beer became very popular among the English working class, who normally consumed it at noon, as a stimulus of strength and vigor for the rest of the day.
At the beginning of the 20th century these beers were promoted as a restorative treatment for anyone in poor health. Interestingly, they were also enthusiastically advertised as a nourishing tonic for nursing mothers, even being prescribed by doctors as late as the 1950s.
Does Sweet Stout or Milk Stout contain milk?
In current recipes of this style, milk is not used directly. This type of beer is made, in most cases, adding lactose , the sugar that milk naturally contains, which is not fermentable and helps to create a fuller, silkier and richer body. Other brewers replicate this lactose-free version of the style with a higher proportion of caramel and crystal malts.
What is different about the Sweet Stout style?
The Milk/Sweet Stouts are characterized by a crown of foam with a creamy texture and appearance. The color of the beer usually ranges from a very dark brown to black, as in the case of Stouts. With a high and obvious degree of opacity, it is difficult to appreciate its clarity and possible transparency.
A sweetness is often present in the aroma (it can be reminiscent of milk cream, slightly vanilla) accompanying an aroma of malt, in which toasted notes of coffee and/or chocolate appear. It is more or less frequent to find fruity aromas, within a range between low and medium-high.
But above all, what will allow this style to be differentiated is its body, which will be complete, with an accentuated level of unfermented sugars that remain present in the finished beer, which also helps to create a "dairy" sensation to the touch. ” and silky in the mouth.
Do I want to try a Sweet Stout?
This style is ideal for this time of year, not only because of its sensory characteristics, but also because it pairs perfectly with hearty dishes. Game meat, roasts, barbecue, and creamy, buttery cheeses pair perfectly with the sweetness of these beers, which can dampen strong flavors. In addition, it is a style that works very well as a main ingredient for the preparation of sauces.
If your mouth is already watering, we leave you here a selection of three Sweet Stouts , available in our store, that you cannot stop trying. If you do a tasting, we advise you to follow the order of the list:
- El Cantero Garrofa Milk Stout: with oat flakes and lactose in its preparation.
- Barcelona Beer Company Señor Lobo Sweet Stout: with orange, chocolate and lactose.