Black Milk Stout (Mackeson clone)

Ah, the taste of England in your pocket. I met my wife over a spilled glass of Mackeson Sweet Stout (stained her white stretch pants...) So this beer has found a place in my heart. Cannot find the good stuff State side, so I actually came pretty close in cloning it. :) Takes a lot of lactose to sweeten, but if 12oz doesn't really work in the boil, add more at bottling. Enjoy!

Brewer: Scurvy Dog Brewing Co. Email: -
Beer: Black Milk Stout (Mackeson clone) Style: Sweet Stout
Type: Extract w/grain Size: 5 gallons
Color:
116 HCU (~39 SRM)
Bitterness: 16 IBU
OG: 1.055 FG: 1.020
Alcohol: 4.5% v/v (3.5% w/w)
Grain: 0.85 lb. Dextrine malt (Cara-Pils)
1.0 lb. British crystal 50-60L
0.75 lb. British chocolate
4 oz. British black patent
Steep: steep grains at 150°F for 30 minutes. Sparge with 170°F water to bring up to volume. Add DME and lactose.
Boil: 60 minutes SG 1.050 5.5 gallons
5.25 lb. Light dry malt extract
12oz lactose in the boil.
.5 tsp Irish Moss (15min)
Hops: 1.03 oz. Kent Goldings (5% AA, 60 min.)
Yeast: Wyeast 1028 London Ale
Carbonation: 2.2 volumes Corn Sugar: 3.73 oz. for 5.0 gallons @ 68°F
Tasting: This would be my second batch. I did a 3 gal trial batch and bottle conditioned. It was wonderful! Except there was to much pronounced bitterness. So I scaled back on the hops, changed them to Goldings (more traditional) and modified the amount of lactose added at boil. Tasted before bottling to figure if I needed more lactose (and I did.) Adjust at bottling by adding up to another 4 oz of lactose when priming.

***UPDATE*** This was a most excellent batch of ale. Very true to the mark of Mackeson. I highly suggest you try it. Wonderful hints of dark chocolate and toffee in the finish.

Recipe posted 11/07/02.