We are back with another Jar of Destiny beer. My pick from the 18th one was a Sweet Stout. For the challenge, I brewed a milk stout.

This beer was based on a Left Hand Milk Stout clone recipe that I found that recipe through the AHA. I modified the recipe based on my own preferences and the final beer was dark, smooth, and balanced between roasty and sweet flavor notes. Let’s get into it.

Jar of Destiny Milk Stout Recipe

This recipe is for a 5 US Gallon batch.

Water
Added Calcium Chloride/Gypsum to get PPMs in the 80 range and balanced profile.
Ca: 82 PPM
SO4: 82 PPM
Cl: 85 PPM

Grain Bill
7.0 lb (3.18 kg) Golden Promise malt – 62% of the bill
1.0 lb (0.45 kg) Simpsons Roasted Barley – 9% of the bill
0.75 lb (340 g) Briess 60° L Crystal malt – 7% of the bill
0.75 lb (340 g) Weyerman Light Munich malt – 7% of the bill
0.75 lb (340 g) Thomas Fawcett Pale Chocolate malt – 7% of the bill
1.0 lb (0.45 kg) Flaked Barley – 9% of the bill

Special Ingredient
1 pound (0.45 kg) of Lactose

Hops
8.5 g of Magnum hops  12.3% AA) – added at 60 minutes to go in the boil
28 g of Kent Goldings hops (5.3% AA) – added at 10 minutes to go in the boil

Yeast
1 Packet of Safale US-05

Directions:

Mashed at 152°F (67°C) for 60 minutes and boiled for 90 minutes, following hop schedule. Added lactose with 15 minutes to go in the boil. Ferment at 70°F (21°C) for two weeks.

Original Gravity: 1.065
Final Gravity: 1.018
ABV: 6.43%
IBU: 19
SRM: 41

Tasting Notes

Mike got more dark chocolate than coffee from this beer. He also picked up a dessert-like character. The roast character was clear, but not harsh or biting. Any more roast may have pushed it too far. The crystal malt added a pleasant caramel note. The lactose supported the malt sweetness and body.

The pale chocolate malt worked well with the roasted barley. It helped avoid an ashy roast character. The beer had a lingering semisweet chocolate chip finish. The body was medium-full, but not too heavy. It was not so sweet that one pint felt like enough. That balance was what I wanted from this batch.

Final Thoughts

This Sweet Stout came together well for the Jar of Destiny challenge. The beer had smooth roast, chocolate, caramel, and a balanced sweetness. It did not become heavy or cloying. The pale chocolate malt was a good choice for this recipe. It kept the darker flavors rounded and smooth.

The fermentation needed a little help from warmer temperatures. The extra week helped the beer finish properly. I would bottle some of this beer and let it sit for later. It has the right character for that treatment.

BREW ON!

Links To The Jar of Destiny Series Results
Check out the British Strong Ale post
Check out the Black IPA post
Check out the International Amber Lager post
Check out the Belgian Tripel post
Check out the Double IPA post
Check out the Kölsch post
Check out the English IPA post
Check out the Wood-Aged Beer post
Check out the Belgian Golden Strong Ale post
Check out the American Amber Ale post
Check out the German Pils post
Check out the Brett Beer post
Check out the Munich Helles post
Check out the Imperial Stout post
Check out the Foreign Extra Stout post
Check out the Belgian IPA post
Check out the Eisbock post
Check out the Czech Dark Lager post
Check out the California Common post
Check out the American Light Lager post
Check out the Pale Kellerbier post
Check out the Belgian Pale Ale post
Check out the Trappist Single post
Check out the Classic Style Smoked Beer post
Check out the Czech Amber Lager post
Check out the Gueuze post
Check out the Irish Stout post
Check out the Tropical Stout post
Check out the Schwarzbier post
Check out the American Wheat Beer post
Check out the Cream Ale post
Check out the American Stout post
Check out the Winter Seasonal Beer post
Check out the Rauchbier post