Beer And Milk – Does It Mix Or Will It Make You Sick?

Beer is a very popular drink around the world and many people enjoy drinking milk too, but have you ever heard of mixing the two? It sounds like a recipe for disaster right?

Well, milk with alcohol is not unheard of (we’ll get to that!) but the way beer is made and how it tastes – will milk actually mix with it?

This guide will examine if beer and milk mix well together, and if you consume such a mixture – will you get sick or not.

So, if you’re looking in your refrigerator for new drink mixing ideas – read this guide first!

Does Beer And Milk Mix?

The answer to this question is: Yes! The ingredients are compatible enough for them to be mixed together without any problems.

However, there are some things you need to know before doing so.

First off, we should mention that when talking about beer and milk, we’re referring to regular beer and milk. Not light beers, nor alcoholic milks.

When it comes to beer and milk, the main thing you want to keep in mind is the difference between beer and milk. While both contain proteins, they also have different amounts of protein.

Milk contains more than double the amount of protein as compared to beer.

This means that while you can combine the two, you won’t end up with something that’s going to taste good (although some people actually enjoy the taste!).

That’s because the proteins in beer and milk don’t match each other at all. So, combining them would result in an unpleasant tasting beverage.

However, you might be the one of the people that enjoys the taste and there’s only one way you’re going to find out – by mixing the two!

The thing you need to remember though is that beer and milk has to be mixed correctly.

If it’s done right, you’ve got yourself an interesting beverage. If done wrong though, the milk will curdle and that will certainly make you sick!

How To Correctly Mix Beer With Milk

In essence, it’s all to do with pH levels in both of these liquids. When it comes to milk, its pH level is usually somewhere between 6.5-7.0, making it acidic.

On the other hand, beer has a pH level of between 4.1 and 4.6. That means that the two cannot be combined unless you adjust the pH levels of either one of them.

To do so, you need to use a buffer solution. A buffer solution is nothing more than a substance that neutralizes acids and bases.

In this case, you’d use a base solution to raise the pH level of the milk.

You can buy a premade buffer solution from most grocery stores, but if you want to save money, you can always make your own. All you need is baking soda and vinegar, and you can create a basic buffer solution.

You can then add the milk to the bottle of beer and shake it up. The acidity of the milk will lower the pH level of the beer and vice versa.

Once you’ve achieved the desired pH level, you can pour the mixture into another container and refrigerate it. It’s best to let the mixture sit overnight before drinking it.

What About 2% Or Low Fat Milk?

Fats in milk protect the proteins, so when you have lower fat milk – there is less protection.

The unprotected proteins will curdle due to the acidity of beer. This basically means you have little chance in mixing beer with low fat milk!

However, there are a whole host of variables when it comes to the likelihood of milk curdling with beer.

These include:

• The type of milk used
• The age of the milk
• The type of beer
• The age of the beer
• Temperature stored

Won’t Beer Make Milk Curdle In Your Stomach Anyway?

Milk without beer mixture will curdle in your stomach eventually anyway due to the presence of acid in your stomach – in this instance it would be gastric acid.

This isn’t normally problematic, but adding beer to the equation will almost certainly speed up the process.

Will I Get Diarrhea If I Drink Beer With Milk?

If you’ve tried mixing the two beverages and had diarrhea, the likely culprit isn’t the milk (although at some times it might be).

As we said, when we drink milk normally, we don’t usually have problems.

However, beer is alcoholic and alcohol can change the way your digestive system works as soon as it enters your intestines.

Now, if you’ve added milk to this, you’re effectively speeding up this process further, and it may cause diarrhea.

Milk alone shouldn’t cause this, but there are situations when it can.

These are:

• Lactose intolerance
• The milk was already expired
• The milk reacted with something else in your stomach

Will I Throw Up If I Drink Beer With Milk?

This is probably the question that gets asked most often. There are many factors here.

First off, the amount of beer you consume is going to play a big part in whether you throw up.

Second, the amount of milk you consume is also going to affect how much you throw up. Again, the amount of milk consumed will depend on the size of the glass you’re using.

Third, the type of beer you consume is important too. Some beers contain ingredients that aren’t good for your stomach.

For example, hops are known to dry out your throat, which could lead to vomiting for some people.

Finally, the temperature of the beer and milk is going to influence how quickly you get sick.

Colder temperatures mean more time for the beer and milk to mix together and therefore increase the chances of throwing up.

On top of that, warmer temperatures mean more rapid absorption of the beer and milk into your bloodstream, meaning you’ll likely feel queasy much quicker.

What Would Happen If I Drank Milk After Drinking A Beer?

This is a perfectly valid question when we’re thinking of mixing the two beverages.
In short, drinking milk before beer is far better for you than drinking beer before milk.

However, if you’re having only one small glass, it should be fine.

In reality, you’d be best off avoiding drinking one and then the other anyway. Alcohol is prioritized by the body when it comes to digestion, so drinking milk may simply cause diarrhea or an unbalanced gut.

You may have heard the myth that you should drink a glass of milk before going out and drinking beer because it lines your stomach.

The fact is, this has no truth to it. You can only line your stomach with real food, and you should always eat a meal a few hours before you plan to drink alcohol – otherwise you may get sick!

Wait – What About Milk Stouts?

You may have heard of milk stout, which is a type of beer. In truth, milk stouts have no actual milk in them despite the name. They do however contain the sugars in milk, lactose.

So, you won’t get sick from drinking this unless you are lactose intolerant.

Because milk stout does not have the proteins present in actual milk, they cannot curdle and therefore this type of beer works very well as a beer/milk hybrid.

However, milk stout is also very high in calories, so you’ll need to watch how much you drink. It’s not recommended for anyone who wants to lose weight.

Are There Any Alcoholic Drinks That Contain Milk?

Yes, there are several alcoholic drinks that contain milk. For example, Irish cream liqueur contains both whiskey and milk. Let’s take a look at a few of these.

Irish Cream Liqueur

Whiskey is made from fermented grain mash and is distilled into a spirit. Irish cream liqueur is made from whiskey and vanilla extract.

The result is a sweetened, creamy liquor that tastes like chocolate ice cream.

Whiskey is actually quite similar to beer in terms of its ingredients.

Both are made from grains and yeast. The difference is that beer ferments naturally while whiskey is produced through distillation. This means that whiskey is purer than beer.

White Russian

A White Russian is a cocktail consisting of vodka, Kahlua, and coffee creamer. Coffee creamer is basically just milk powder mixed with water. This makes the drink taste more like coffee.

The Kahlua is a mix of coffee flavored liqueur and sugar syrup. The Kahlua is added to the white Russians after the vodka is poured in.

Beer Nog

Beer nog is a popular holiday beverage. It consists of eggnog and beer. Eggnog is typically made from eggs, milk, and sugar.

Some people add rum or brandy to make it even stronger.

Eggnog is often served hot but cold beer nog is also common.

Beer nog is usually served warm since it tends to be sweeter than regular eggnog.

Guinness Milkshake

Guinness milkshakes are a great way to enjoy Guinness. These shakes are made with Guinness stout, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream.

Are There Any Health Benefits Of Mixing Alcohol And Milk?

There are some health benefits to mixing alcohol and milk, but it’s mainly due to the properties of the milk itself, rather than the alcohol it is mixed with.

First, we know that milk is good for our bones and teeth. When we consume milk, calcium is absorbed into our bodies. Calcium helps keep bones strong and healthy.

Milks such as skimmed milk, low-fat milk, and nonfat milk are all good sources of calcium. However, these don’t mix with beer as we’ve seen.

Second, milk has been shown to help prevent cavities. This is because it contains phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, and fluoride. All of these minerals help strengthen tooth enamel.

Third, milk can reduce your risk of getting diabetes. One study found that those who drank two glasses of milk each day were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

However, we have to remember that even though milk has benefits to it, alcohol abuse has far more detrimental effects – so always drink responsibly.

So, Should I Mix Beer And Milk?

It’s probably better that you don’t, but that’s not to say that you can’t. Some people will enjoy the taste and handle the mixture without a problem.

However, as there are so many variables to the mixture and getting it just right, you can’t be sure it’s going to agree with you.

Conclusion

While you can mix beer and milk, it’s probably best that you avoid doing so because it’s the only guarantee that you won’t get sick.

If you do decide to try this combination, you should stick to one glass of beer per serving of milk and only use full-fat milk.

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Andrew Carr

Hi, I’m Andrew Carr and I find beer fascinating. Not just drinking it (although that is a plus!) but everything about it. There is so much to learn - the fermenting process, the best glasses for each type, recipes to make at home… The list goes on!

I have been making my own beer for almost a decade now and I pride myself on my home setup. I’ve made sours, pale IPAs, stouts - you name it, I’ve probably made it in the comfort of my own home.

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