What Is Milk Stout

Our answer

Nigella's Oxtail With Milk Stout And Marjoram (from HOW TO EAT) is a stew that uses milk stout as part of the cooking liquid. Milk stout is a type of dark beer that is made with the addition of lactose sugar, a type of sugar that comes from milk. As lactose sugar does not ferment during the brewing process, the resulting stout is sweeter than regular stouts (such as Guinness). When used in cooking, milk stout doesn't have the bitter edge that you get from other stouts and some dark beers.

Milk stout can be bought from some major supermarkets (in the UK Mackeson is the best known brand and is also available in some outlets in the US) and from some off-licences or liquor stores. In the last couple of years some craft brewers have also started to produce milk stouts and you may find them in an outlet that specialises in craft beer. Unfortunately there isn't really a good substitute as most beers are too bitter in comparison. However, if you can't find milk stout then you may like to try Nigella's Carbonnade a la Flamande as an alternative as it uses dark Belgian beer or dark ale.