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Milk Stout

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Milk chocolate leads, freshly brewed coffee aromas follow, and hints of caramelized sugar plus a subtle sweetness melt into a creamy finish. Lactose plays the part of cream in coffee, and rolled oats, flaked barley and roasted barley fill out the grist. A fixture since 1999, it took Great American Beer Festival gold in 2013.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter25 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceTwo or Three

AWARDS

Gold · 2013
Great American Beer Festival
Sweet Stout or Cream Stout
Silver · 2022
Great American Beer Festival
Oatmeal Stout
★Gold — Great American Beer Festival (Sweet Stout or Cream Stout)
★Silver — Great American Beer Festival (Oatmeal Stout)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatecoffeeroasted
chocolate
coffee
roasted
caramel
malty
dark fruit
Aroma
Milk chocolate and roasted coffee dominate the nose, with freshly brewed espresso notes providing aromatic clarity.
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Milk Stout

◎ Appearance

Deep brown to near-black hue with a SRM of 35, presenting opaque density and minimal light transmission. A rich, tan-colored head forms readily and clings persistently to the glass walls, demonstrating excellent head retention typical of the style. Carbonation appears moderate, with slow-rising bubbles characteristic of a full-bodied stout.

deep brownopaquepersistent head

◌ Aroma

Milk chocolate and roasted coffee dominate the nose, with freshly brewed espresso notes providing aromatic clarity. Subtle caramelized sugar and toasted grain undertones emerge beneath, while rolled oats and roasted barley contribute a grounded, grainy minerality without astringency. The lactose adjunct softens the overall impression, lending a creamy, almost sweet perfume to the bouquet.

chocolate-forwardcoffeeroasted graincreamy sweetness

◐ Taste

Milk chocolate flavors dominate the palate entry, accompanied by robust coffee and roasted malt character. The mid-palate reveals layered caramel complexity, with rolled oats and flaked barley providing silky texture and a subtle malt sweetness. Bitterness remains restrained at 25 IBUs, allowing the creamy lactose to integrate seamlessly without cloying; the overall mouthfeel is velvety and smooth.

chocolate-richcoffee-drivencreamybalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and medium in length, with chocolate and coffee notes lingering pleasantly on the palate. Residual sweetness from lactose and caramel fade gradually, leaving a soft, creamy impression without harshness.

smooth fadecreamy aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 10–14°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within a year. Standard stouts are best fresh but hold reasonably well for 6–12 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Milk Stout

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About Milk Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Milk Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Milk Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, coffee, creamy character as Milk Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

FEATURED IN

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