I prefer to add lactose at the same time as the priming sugar. This way you can adjust the amount based on your own sense of taste. Let the fermentation happen first, then take a taste of the finished product just before you bottle it, and adjust the amount added with your priming sugar based on how much you think you need for the sweetness level that you want in the final carbonated beer. If the beer already tastes sort of sweet, you won't need very much lactose at all. In that case I would use 0.25 to 0.5 lb per 5 gallons (115 to 230 g per 19 L). If the beer tastes very thin and needs a lot of sweetness, then use 0.75 to 1 lb per 5 gallons (340 to 450 g per 19 L). If you are not sure how much to use, about 0.5 to 0.75 lb or 250-300 g is probably a good moderate amount in 5 gal (19 L).
I prefer to add lactose at the same time as the priming sugar. This way you can adjust the amount based on your own sense of taste. Let the fermentation happen first, then take a taste of the finished product just before you bottle it, and adjust the amount added with your priming sugar based on how much you think you need for the sweetness level that you want in the final carbonated beer. If the beer already tastes sort of sweet, you won't need very much lactose at all. In that case I would use 0.25 to 0.5 lb per 5 gallons (115 to 230 g per 19 L). If the beer tastes very thin and needs a lot of sweetness, then use 0.75 to 1 lb per 5 gallons (340 to 450 g per 19 L). If you are not sure how much to use, about 0.5 to 0.75 lb or 250-300 g is probably a good moderate amount in 5 gal (19 L).
Thank you once again about when to add the lactose, never knew that and on my next milk stout brew I will do it that way. It's so great to have people with actual knowledge and real-life experience of these brewing questions. A little smarter every day !
