Sweet Stout and Hops Suitable for Brewing Your Dessert in a Glass

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So you’re aiming to craft a stout that’s as smooth as a lullaby and sweet as your grandma’s compliments? Look no further than the underappreciated Sweet Stout.

Often dubbed the Milk Stout due to its use of lactose.

Which is basically sugar’s way of saying, “I’m not ready to retire”.

This brew is the ultimate dessert in a pint glass. It’s the kind of beer that makes you want to kick off your shoes, put on some jazz, and bake cookies with an apron that says “Hops to it.”

Now, when it comes to hop varieties for your soon-to-be legendary Sweet Stout, you’re not exactly throwing a dart at a map and seeing where it lands. You want hops that understand their role in this melodious brew.

They’re not the lead singer; they’re the backup dancers.

Fuggles or Goldings hops can lay down that subtle bitterness without stealing the show. Think of hops in a Sweet Stout like the quiet kid in class who secretly has the best zingers.

Not always noticed, but absolutely brilliant when they chime in.

Key Takeaways

Sweet Stout, also known as Milk Stout, is a dessert-like beer with a smooth and sweet profile.
Use hops like Fuggles or Goldings for just the right hint of bitterness without overwhelming the sweetness.
The hops in a Sweet Stout are like backup dancers, present but not the center of attention.

Sweet Stout’s Specs and Brewing

Ready to dive into the roasty goodness of a Sweet Stout? Buckle up, because we’re about to embark on a frothy journey through the land of milk stouts where creamy dreams are brewed into reality.

Characteristics of Sweet Stout

Let’s cut to the chase. Your Sweet Stout is the life of the beer party. It’s dark as a moonless night but sweet enough to make a chocolate bar blush. It’s that one friend who’s sweet but with a roasty edge.

The kind who remembers your birthday but will also prank you with a whoopee cushion. In the stats corner, expect an Original Gravity (OG) that ranges between 1.044 – 1.060 and Final Gravity (FG) of 1.012 – 1.024.

ABV? From 3.2% to 6.3% of alcohol.

Meaning this brew can carry some weight but won’t knock you over after one pint.

Another 2 important measures are IBU and SRM. First tells you how bitter your Milk Stout is supposed to be and that’s between 15 and 40. Second is the color, expect 30 to 40+.

Dark, Rich, and Creamy

Imagine a velvet cloak of darkness, swirling in your glass. That’s your brew right there. Malt is the unsung hero here, providing rich chocolate and coffee vibes without a Ph.D. in bitterness.

With lactose thrown in the mix, it’s like your beer got a dose of…

…liquid sweetness that just refuses to ferment.

Giving this ale its trademark creamy texture. That’s right – it’s intentionally sweet. Shocking for a beer? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely. But that is why it also has the third name – Cream Stout.

Crafting the Perfect Brew

Roll up your sleeves, because brewing Sweet Stout is like casting a spell with hops instead of a wand. While you won’t be drowning your wort in hops, they play a crucial role in balancing the sweetness.

You’re aiming for subtlety here.

With enough bitterness to say, “Hey, I’m still a beer!” but not so much that it stomps over the sweetness. We’re looking for happily married flavors, not a food fight in your mouth.

Hops Name	Brewing Stage	Min of Oz per gallon	Max of Oz per gallon	Min of Oz per batch [5gal]	Max of Oz per batch [5gal]	Average of Oz per gallon
East Kent Golding	Aroma	0.03	0.81	0.15	4.03	0.17
	Bittering	0.03	1.07	0.15	5.34	0.22
	First Wort	0.1	0.2	0.52	1	0.15
	Flavor	0.01	0.38	0.07	1.9	0.14
	Whirlpool	0.06	0.31	0.3	1.54	0.17
East Kent Golding Total		0.01	1.07	0.07	5.34	0.18
Fuggle	Aroma	0.01	0.42	0.06	2.08	0.15
	Bittering	0.04	0.91	0.18	4.55	0.24
	Dry Hop	0.06	0.29	0.29	1.45	0.17
	First Wort	0.07	0.48	0.36	2.4	0.22
	Flavor	0.01	0.76	0.07	3.79	0.16
	Whirlpool	0.07	0.18	0.33	0.91	0.12
Fuggle Total		0.01	0.91	0.06	4.55	0.2
Magnum	Aroma	0.04	0.38	0.18	1.89	0.13
	Bittering	0.03	0.52	0.13	2.58	0.1
	First Wort	0.06	0.27	0.29	1.36	0.12
	Flavor	0.02	0.2	0.11	1	0.12
Magnum Total		0.02	0.52	0.11	2.58	0.11
Willamette	Aroma	0.04	0.33	0.18	1.67	0.14
	Bittering	0.06	0.55	0.3	2.73	0.22
	Dry Hop	0.08	0.42	0.42	2.12	0.21
	First Wort	0.1	0.3	0.5	1.5	0.22
	Flavor	0.06	0.5	0.31	2.5	0.17
	Whirlpool	0.05	0.14	0.23	0.68	0.09
Willamette Total		0.04	0.55	0.18	2.73	0.19
Cascade	Aroma	0.01	0.36	0.05	1.82	0.14
	Bittering	0.02	1.07	0.08	5.34	0.18
	Dry Hop	0.04	0.44	0.2	2.22	0.18
	Flavor	0.01	0.5	0.06	2.5	0.13
	Whirlpool	0.04	0.22	0.2	1.11	0.1
Cascade Total		0.01	1.07	0.05	5.34	0.16

Hops Name	Brewing Stage	Min of Grams per liter	Max of Grams per liter	Min of Grams per batch [20ltr]	Max of Grams per batch [20ltr]	Average of Grams per liter
East Kent Golding	Aroma	0.22	6.04	4.44	120.79	1.3
	Bittering	0.22	8	4.4	160	1.68
	First Wort	0.78	1.5	15.63	29.96	1.14
	Flavor	0.1	2.85	2	57.06	1.05
	Whirlpool	0.44	2.3	8.89	46.09	1.3
East Kent Golding Total		0.1	8	2	160	1.38
Fuggle	Aroma	0.1	3.11	1.9	62.22	1.14
	Bittering	0.26	6.81	5.26	136.17	1.79
	Dry Hop	0.43	2.17	8.7	43.48	1.3
	First Wort	0.53	3.59	10.7	71.9	1.62
	Flavor	0.1	5.67	2	113.4	1.23
	Whirlpool	0.5	1.36	10	27.27	0.91
Fuggle Total		0.1	6.81	1.9	136.17	1.46
Magnum	Aroma	0.27	2.83	5.45	56.6	0.96
	Bittering	0.19	3.86	3.74	77.14	0.79
	First Wort	0.43	2.04	8.7	40.85	0.89
	Flavor	0.17	1.5	3.33	30	0.89
Magnum Total		0.17	3.86	3.33	77.14	0.8
Willamette	Aroma	0.27	2.5	5.45	49.93	1.08
	Bittering	0.45	4.08	9.09	81.7	1.67
	Dry Hop	0.62	3.17	12.48	63.49	1.56
	First Wort	0.75	2.25	14.98	44.93	1.67
	Flavor	0.47	3.74	9.36	74.89	1.3
	Whirlpool	0.34	1.01	6.81	20.26	0.63
Willamette Total		0.27	4.08	5.45	81.7	1.4
Cascade	Aroma	0.08	2.72	1.61	54.47	1.09
	Bittering	0.13	8	2.5	160	1.37
	Dry Hop	0.3	3.33	6	66.57	1.33
	Flavor	0.1	3.74	1.94	74.89	0.96
	Whirlpool	0.3	1.66	6	33.29	0.72
Cascade Total		0.08	8	1.61	160	1.17

*This data consists of hundreds of thousands of manually input recipes and, despite best efforts, they may contain errors leading to very high max amounts, or be someone’s attempt for experimental brew. You should consider this data more as an overview of how different ingredients were used for different styles to get inspiration. Please do not attempt to add up different lines as it’s all about proportions.

So there you have it, you’ll want to use a light hand on the hops, but choose wisely, and you’ll have a brew to brag about. Keep those IBUs on a leash. Something in the range of 20-40 is the sweet spot.

Your goal is to create a beer that’s got a bit of a juggling act going on.

Sweet but not syrupy, dark but not heavy, complex but not confusing. It’s like holding a delicious ballet in your glass, where every sip makes you want to give a standing ovation. Cheers!

Hop to It: Selecting Hops for Sweet Stouts

When brewing your sweet stout, picking the right hops is like finding the perfect bass line for a jazz song. It sets the foundation and complements the melody of malty sweetness with a hit of bitterness.

Balancing Bitter and Sweet

Your sweet stout is a smooth operator.

With luscious malts that hug your tastebuds like a warm blanket. To cut through the sweetness, you’ll want hops with alpha acids on the lower end. Think Fuggles or East Kent Goldings, which bring a gentle bitterness that doesn’t steal the spotlight from the malt.

Trust me, you want to avoid a battle of the bands between sweet and bitter.

Best Hops with Low Alpha Acids:
- Fuggles (2.5-6.5% Alpha Acids)
- East Kent Goldings (4-6.5% Alpha Acids)

Earthy Notes for Depth

If your sweet stout had a voice, it’d be the earthy rasp of a blues singer. Deep and soulful. Earthy hops like Willamette or Northern Brewer can give your beer that grounding it needs. They add a touch of herbal, almost forest-like vibes.

The ones that pair wonderfully with the creamy sweetness.

Earthy Hops That Rock:
- Willamette (4-7% Alpha Acids)
- Northern Brewer (6-10% Alpha Acids) – use sparingly for balance

Unlikely Companions: Citrus and Spice

I know, I know. Citrus in a sweet stout sounds as out-of-place as a skateboard in a tea party. But a twang of citrus can sometimes bring the party to the malts. Cascade hops, with their subtle grapefruit and floral aroma, can add a zesty twist and some complexity.

Just don’t go nuts with them. Keep it easy, tiger, alright?

Or your stout might end up tasting like a hoppy IPA’s distant cousin!

Citrusy Surprise Hops:
- Cascade (4.5-9% Alpha Acids) – think “zest,” not “zest-fest”

Remember, with great hops comes great responsibility. Use them to complement, not overwhelm. No one wants a stout that tastes like it’s had an identity crisis. Cheers to your brewing adventure! 🍻

Hops Varieties Showdown

When brewing a Sweet Stout, you don’t want just any old hop crashing the party.

You want the best companion for those rich, chocolatey malts.

The Alpha Acid Athletes

First up, meet the heavy lifters in the hop world: the Alpha Acid Athletes. You know how every team needs a strong player? For Sweet Stout, these guys bring the bitterness to balance that silky sweetness you love.

When scouting, you’re not looking for face-melting IBUs here. Aim for hops with a moderate alpha acid range (say, below 10%). E.g.: Fuggle hops, with their earthy and woody charm, have a modest 3-6% alpha acid content.

And will get along with your Stout without overwhelming it with bitterness.

European Nobility

Let’s tip our brewing hats to the elegance of European Nobility – Noble Hops. Originating primarily from the majestic lands of Germany and the Czech Republic. These hops are like the royals of the hop world.

Think the fine china you bring out for special guests. With Noble Hops, you’re weaving in tradition with delicate floral and herbal notes. Ideal companions to Sweet Stout’s robust character without stealing the show.

They are like Pippen to your Jordan.

American All-Stars

Brace yourself for the American All-Stars. This is where hops like Amarillo, Simcoe, and Citra flex their citrus and fruity muscles. While they might seem like the life of the party in an IPA, with a Sweet Stout they’ll need to keep it down a notch.

We’re looking for subtlety, folks! Centennial hops can be a wildcard here. With their floral and citrus vibe, they can sneak into a Sweet Stout recipe and whisper rather than shout. Adding just a hint of America’s hoppy greatness to your brew.

Damian

A lifelong learner, hop enthusiast and a lover of the state of extreme exhaustion.

Finance Analyst in the Investment Bank and co-founder of hopsmatcher.com