903 Brewers Candy Bar Stout 4Pk

903 Brewers Candy Bar Stout 4Pk is an 8.5% ABV American imperial lactose stout from Sherman, Texas, sold in a four-pack. Brewed with sweetened condensed milk, chocolate, caramel, and almond flavors, this pastry-style stout has earned a 3.8 out of 5 rating on Untappd from over 1,100 reviews, drawing frequent comparisons to a liquid candy bar.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.5%  |  Origin: Sherman, Texas, USA  |  Style: American Imperial Lactose Stout  |  Brewery: 903 Brewers

Production & Heritage

903 Brewers operates out of Sherman, Texas, and has built a reputation for bold, flavor-forward beers — including their Sasquatch Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout, which earned a silver medal at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival. Candy Bar Stout pushes the dessert-stout concept further by incorporating sweetened condensed milk and lactose into the grain bill alongside chocolate, caramel, and almond additions. The result is a thick, confectionery-driven imperial stout that leans heavily into pastry territory rather than roasty tradition.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Chocolate dominates the nose immediately, followed by distinct almond extract sweetness and a sugary caramel undercurrent. A faint milky richness rounds out the bouquet, hinting at the lactose and condensed milk additions.

Taste: The entry is rich and gooey, with a fluffy chocolate body that quickly gives way to sticky caramel at mid-palate. Earthy almonds and creamy nougat flavors emerge as the beer warms, creating a layered sweetness that mirrors the candy bar profile the name promises. At 8.5% ABV, the alcohol is well-buried beneath the confectionery weight.

Finish: The finish is long and excessively sweet, with lingering chocolate and caramel that coat the palate. A gentle nougat creaminess persists, carried by the lactose body that prevents a clean, dry close.

How to Drink Candy Bar Stout

Pour this stout into a snifter or tulip glass at around 50°F to let the chocolate and caramel aromatics open up fully; this beer rewards slow sipping rather than quick drinking. A Stout Float turns the dessert dial to maximum — drop a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream into a pour for an indulgent after-dinner treat. A Beer Cocktail Flip using a whole egg, simple syrup, and a full pour shaken hard creates a rich, frothy nightcap that amplifies the nougat character. For a twist on a Black Velvet, layer Candy Bar Stout with a dry sparkling cider to cut through the sweetness while preserving the chocolate backbone.

Best For

• Dessert-course replacement at a dinner party
• Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who enjoy pastry stouts
• Cold-weather evening sipping sessions
• Gifting to someone who gravitates toward sweet, full-bodied dark beers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Candy Bar Stout taste like? It delivers rich chocolate, sticky caramel, earthy almonds, and creamy nougat in a thick, sweet package that closely mimics the flavor of a chocolate-covered candy bar. The lactose and sweetened condensed milk additions create a full, milky body that amplifies the dessert character.

How does Candy Bar Stout compare to 903 Brewers Sasquatch? Sasquatch is a chocolate milk stout that balances roasted malt with moderate sweetness, while Candy Bar Stout pushes much further into pastry territory with the addition of caramel, almond, and sweetened condensed milk. Sasquatch won a silver medal at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival, making it the more traditionally recognized expression, whereas Candy Bar Stout appeals to drinkers seeking a more intensely sweet, confectionery experience.

Is Candy Bar Stout good for sipping neat? Yes — at 8.5% ABV with a thick, creamy body, it is best enjoyed slowly from a snifter at a slightly cool temperature, which allows the layered chocolate and caramel flavors to develop fully as the beer warms in the glass.

Where is Candy Bar Stout made? Candy Bar Stout is brewed by 903 Brewers in Sherman, Texas, a city located about 70 miles north of Dallas in the North Texas region.

What foods pair well with Candy Bar Stout? Salted brownies complement the caramel and chocolate without adding competing sweetness. Vanilla cheesecake mirrors the creamy lactose body. Smoked brisket provides a savory, fatty counterpoint that balances the sugar load. Roasted almonds echo the nutty component already present in the beer. Blue cheese offers a sharp, tangy contrast that cuts through the richness.

What sizes does Candy Bar Stout come in? Candy Bar Stout is available as a four-pack; individual can sizes may vary by release, so check the packaging for exact volume.

Is Candy Bar Stout worth the price? It positions as a specialty craft imperial stout within the pastry stout subcategory, where higher ABVs and adjunct-heavy recipes typically command a moderate premium over standard craft four-packs — reasonable value for drinkers who appreciate the dessert-stout style.

Why Candy Bar Stout?

What separates this beer from the crowded pastry stout field is the use of sweetened condensed milk as a brewing ingredient, an unconventional choice that adds a distinctive dairy richness no amount of lactose alone can replicate. 903 Brewers has proven their command of imperial stout recipes at the national level, with their Sasquatch expression earning GABF recognition. Candy Bar Stout channels that same technical skill into a more experimental, unapologetically sweet direction. For drinkers who want a stout that genuinely delivers on a candy-bar promise rather than merely gesturing at it, this is one of the more committed versions available from a Texas craft brewery.