Lactose FAQ’s

Hi there, friend! So you’re wondering about lactose! It’s a really common ingredient for breweries across the world, but over the past few years many consumers have become more aware of lactose’ use in beer. The good news for lactose-sensitive folks? It’s super easy to avoid with a little knowledge on what types of beers normally do, or normally don’t, contain lactose!  

We sat down with our Head Brewer to talk about how and why breweries use lactose. 

Most sugars used in brewing are fermented out on the ‘cold side’ of the brew process. During fermentation, yeast converts the sugars in wort (a sugary liquid extracted from the mashing process) into alcohol and CO2. 

Lactose is a non-fermentable sugar, meaning that it remains (in various amounts) in the finished beer. Historically, lactose has been most common in stouts (think: milk stouts) to complement the chocolate-y, roasty flavors. Recently, most breweries producing hazy/milkshake IPAs, pastry stouts and fruited sours use lactose to create a smoother, creamier mouthfeel and a softer, fuller body….all the things you love about those styles! 

So what’s a lactose-sensitive person to do? Everyone’s reactions vary, and many beers contain different amounts of lactose. However, a good rule of thumb at TailGate is that hazy IPAs, fruited sours, pastry stouts, and anything with the word milk/cream are going to contain lactose! We brew plenty of options free of dairy and lactose....just ask your TailGate bartender if you’re ever in doubt and they’ll be happy to help you out. 

Here’s a list of regularly available beers and ciders that do not use lactose:

• Orange Wheat | TailGate Lager | Southeast IPA | TailGate Cider

• All ciders out of TailGate Cider Co

• All beers out of TailGate’s Mixed Culture project at TailGate Brewery East Nashville

• Many more rotating, true-to-style, traditional beers available on tap at each taproom

Did you know we also offer dairy-free/vegan pizza options? Check out our food menu here!