Which Dessert Beers Are The Best?

In the past year, more and more craft brewers have experimented with sweet beers. Brewers add spices, lactose, or syrups to create brews that can be an entire dessert course on their own! Which dessert beers are most worth trying out? Whether you are a fan of rich chocolatey treats or tangy fruit desserts, there is a beer for dessert perfect for you!

Mexican Donut – Imperial/Double Stout

Photo courtesy of Barrelled Souls Instagram

“An Imperial Stout with Chocolate, Cinnamon, and Vanilla donuts from Holy Donut and Fresno chili peppers.” (Barreled Souls Brewing Company)

SLUSHY Blueberry Dessert – Fruited Sour

450 North Brewing Company Instagram

“Fruited Sour conditioned on Blueberry, Brown Sugar, Graham Cracker, Lactose and Vanilla.” (450 North Brewing Company)

French Toast – Double Brown Ale

Photo courtesy of Funky Buddha Brewery

“Look out lumberjacks, it’s time for the most important meal of the day! Our French Toast double brown ale is loaded with flavors of custardy bread, cinnamon, and maple, like the namesake treat. So grab your freshest flannel and enjoy this artisan ale before it’s gone.” (Funky Buddha Brewery)

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie – Brown Ale

Photo courtesy of Cigar City Brewing

“The genesis of the beer you’re holding in your hand was pretty simple. We asked ourselves, “What if a beer tasted like an oatmeal raisin cookie?” The answer to our rhetorical question was to add raisins, lactose and cinnamon to Maduro, our English-style Brown Ale, a beer that showcases flavors of caramel, toffee and chocolate.” (Cigar City Brewing)

Sticky Treats – Rice Blonde Ale

Photo courtesy of Funky Buddha Brewery

“No need to harsh your ‘mallow, big guy: Our beastly brewers have layered this rice blonde ale with plenty of sticky vanilla for a taste that’s not unlike your favorite rice-cereal-and-marshmallow snack. So (gently) grab a friend, pop a bottle, and get ready to treat-yo-self!” (Funky Buddha Brewery)

Milk & Cookies – Imperial Milk Stout

Photo courtesy of Wicked Weed Brewing

“Milk & Cookies Stout transports us to our childhood kitchens, where freshly baked cinnamon-raisin cookies warmed us against winter winds and familiar grandparents’ voices permeated the sounds of the night. Hints of cold milk, sweet vanilla, and hearty oatmeal remind us that our memories are forever led by our senses. In this case, we are led home.” (Wicked Weed Brewing)

Dragon’s Milk Reserve: Banana Coconut – Bourbon-Barrel Aged Stout

Photo courtesy of New Holland Brewing

“Roasted, malty and smooth characteristics blended with the creamy richness of real banana, plantain and coconut.” (New Holland Brewing)

Blueberry Parfait – Kettle Sour Ale

Photo courtesy of Fieldwork Brewing Co.

“With Blueberry Parfait we have what we think tastes like a whipped cream and blueberries in a glass, no other way to describe it.” (Fieldwork Brewing Co.)

Caribbean Nights – Milkshake IPA

Photo courtesy of Perrin Brewing Company

“A tropical Milkshake IPA made with tangerine, mango, pineapple and lactose milk sugar utilizing Mosaic, Comet, Galaxy, Citra, Enigma, El Dorado, and Centennial hops.’ (Perrin Brewing Co.)

These interesting and experimental dessert beers may be the newest trend in craft brewing, but we think this may be a trend that sticks around for a while. What do you think about the idea of crafting beer to taste like your favorite sweet treats? Will you try beer for dessert?