There is Lactose in My Beer, and I Think I Like It
A beer made with lactose… sounds unappetizing right?
Then why does it taste so good?
First and foremost, for those of you who are unfamiliar with what lactose is exactly. It’s most associated with milk. However, this does not mean there is milk in your beer. Lactose is just sugar that is found in milk.
Lactose was most notably used in milk stouts originally, which obtained their sweetness from the added milk sugar (lactose). However, it has now become increasingly more popular in the last couple years in styles of beer such as sours, lagers and IPAs.
During the brewing process, most sugars turn into alcohol, but not lactose. Lactose cannot be metabolized by the yeast, and therefore remains in the beer. The lactose adds a more creamy and sweeter taste and texture to the beer.
I am seeing more and more styles of beer containing lactose at a high rate. There is at least one beer at every brewery and/or craft beer bar nowadays that contains lactose.
This could be just a trend, or it could be here to stay…It’s hard to say for sure.
So, for those of you who are lactose intolerant, I suggest checking the ingredients before trying a new beer. While some beers use low amounts of lactose, the level of intolerance varies from person to person.
Lactose will continue to be an ongoing conversation for now, but it’s impossible to predict where craft beer is headed. I am just here to enjoy the ride.
