Left Hand Milk Stout

Left Hand Brewing Company

If your experience in drinking beer is limited, Left Hand Brewing Company's Milk Stout is definitely one to pick up. Here's where you can find them.

Sweet Stout, Cream Stout, and Milk Stout are all traditional names for "sweet" tasting stout beers. Normally, sweetness refers to a low-attenuation by the yeast. In other words, the beer is sweet because there are a lot of residual sugars that the yeast did not eat and turn into CO2 and alcohol. In the case of this style the sweetness is caused by the additional of a non-fermentable sugar, lactose.

If you see a beer named or described as any of the above three titles they are all the same style and can be quite delicious! As an interesting note, apparently in England (where the style originated) they aren't allowed to use the term "milk stout" anymore. I don't know why (but if you know leave the info in the comments).

Left Hand's Milk Stout has a subdued roasted character and creamy flavor. Since it's carbonated and not nitrogenated the creaminess is not as significant as Guinness or Young's Double Chocolate Stout. However, the sweetness balances this stout well and makes it a good choice for borderline drinkers as well as experienced craft brew enthusiasts.

Bottom Line: Great example of a sweet stout. Must try this one! Creamy and slightly roasty, it's my brother-in-law's favorite beer (maybe). And that makes it worthwhile to try at least once!

Stats:
SRM - 47
ABV - 6%
IBU - 25
Plato - 15.5
Malts - Pale 2-row, Crystal, Munich, Roast Barley, Flaked Oats, Flaked Barley, and Chocolate
Hops - Magnum and US Goldings
Other - Lactose