Madagascar | 4 Hands Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
4 Hands Brewing Co.
Missouri, United States
4handsbrewery.com
Style: Milk / Sweet Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.30%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
Imperial Milk Stout aged in Bourbon barrels with copious amounts of Madagascar vanilla beans.
Added by ThePorterSorter on 02-15-2014
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 827 | Reviews: 98
4.54/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.29/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.39/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.75/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer was a let down. I went to the brewery in Missouri and was so excited for the "copius" amounts of Vanilla. The flavor did not come through. This beer should not be on the top 500 let alone 200
204 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer was a let down. I went to the brewery in Missouri and was so excited for the "copius" amounts of Vanilla. The flavor did not come through. This beer should not be on the top 500 let alone 200
204 characters
4.13/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.07/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark chestnut brown with two-and-a-half fingers of mocha-colored head. Sheets of lacing.
Delicious aroma of cocoa, brownie batter, vanilla, leather, toffee and bourbon in the nose. Really great.
Lighter tasting than the nose suggests. Chocolate, vanilla and milk are the most prominent, with a little nuttiness, leather, tobacco and earthy hops behind to balance out any sweetness. Slight alcohol behind.
Appropriate feel for a the style, but, IMO, it's thin against all these flavors. Also a bit sticky, with modest carbonation.
A little more heft in the body and barrel heat would make it better, to my taste, but this still has a really nice balance of flavors -- especially in the aroma. As a milk stout, it's excellent.
746 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark chestnut brown with two-and-a-half fingers of mocha-colored head. Sheets of lacing.
Delicious aroma of cocoa, brownie batter, vanilla, leather, toffee and bourbon in the nose. Really great.
Lighter tasting than the nose suggests. Chocolate, vanilla and milk are the most prominent, with a little nuttiness, leather, tobacco and earthy hops behind to balance out any sweetness. Slight alcohol behind.
Appropriate feel for a the style, but, IMO, it's thin against all these flavors. Also a bit sticky, with modest carbonation.
A little more heft in the body and barrel heat would make it better, to my taste, but this still has a really nice balance of flavors -- especially in the aroma. As a milk stout, it's excellent.
746 characters
4.44/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.15/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Vintage 2018
Heavy booze aroma with vanilla accents. Bourbon is less prominent in the flavor with milk chocolate, toasted malt and vanilla taking charge. Thick texture and low carbonation.
188 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Vintage 2018
Heavy booze aroma with vanilla accents. Bourbon is less prominent in the flavor with milk chocolate, toasted malt and vanilla taking charge. Thick texture and low carbonation.
188 characters
4.23/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.66/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.21/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Opaque, near black body, with a frothy, cola-like beige head that dissipates with a hiss. Vanilla scents leap out, followed by lovely milk chocolate notes. Lactose and vanilla extract are prominent. Sweet, with a thinner than expected body. A delicious dessert kind of beer.
274 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Opaque, near black body, with a frothy, cola-like beige head that dissipates with a hiss. Vanilla scents leap out, followed by lovely milk chocolate notes. Lactose and vanilla extract are prominent. Sweet, with a thinner than expected body. A delicious dessert kind of beer.
274 characters
4.35/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.44/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.5/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.61/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Drank from a 1 pint, 6 fl oz bottle purchased at Craft Beer Cellar, Belmont, MA
2018
Review #1525
Dark brown/black appearance. The inky looking liquid was topped by a two-finger tall, super tight and frothy, tan colored crown that fell to a small collar. A few thin streaks of lacing stuck along the glass.
The aroma contained notes of vanilla but came across as a bit strange and artificial initially. There was a dry, powdery, almost plastic-y quality. As the head dropped, the vanilla really came forth, but it seemed more akin to artificial vanilla extract than high quality vanilla beans. Some brown sugar sweetness was also apparent. Subtle roasted malt notes. Touch of boozy, bourbon vanilla as well. As the beer warmed, the vanilla really intensified and seemed to transform into something reminiscent of high quality vanilla extract. More brown sugar. Bit of semisweet chocolate too. Amazing.
The flavor profile mimicked the nose pretty closely. The beer tasted a bit artificial and plastic-y initially but improved notably as it opened up. Strong roasted malt notes on the front end. Somewhat milky. Loads of punchy vanilla extract. A nice brown sugar-like sweetness was also apparent. Bourbon vanilla notes appeared mid-palate. Strong semisweet chocolate presence as well. The booziness increased slightly as the liquid moved along the palate. More vanilla, brown sugar and bourbon on the finish.
Outstanding mouthfeel. Super fluffy and smooth. Medium bodied for the style. The liquid contained a fine, zippy effervescence that frothed up really nicely on the palate. By the beer’s end, the liquid left a slightly sticky film on my lips.
Madagascar is one of the most vanilla-forward beers I have ever tried, and one of the most impressive of this style. Unlike most vanilla-infused stouts, which are often sweet and boozy, this was surprising balanced. If you own a bottle, be patient with this beer and give it some time to warm because it gets remarkably better as it opens up.
1,999 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Drank from a 1 pint, 6 fl oz bottle purchased at Craft Beer Cellar, Belmont, MA
2018
Review #1525
Dark brown/black appearance. The inky looking liquid was topped by a two-finger tall, super tight and frothy, tan colored crown that fell to a small collar. A few thin streaks of lacing stuck along the glass.
The aroma contained notes of vanilla but came across as a bit strange and artificial initially. There was a dry, powdery, almost plastic-y quality. As the head dropped, the vanilla really came forth, but it seemed more akin to artificial vanilla extract than high quality vanilla beans. Some brown sugar sweetness was also apparent. Subtle roasted malt notes. Touch of boozy, bourbon vanilla as well. As the beer warmed, the vanilla really intensified and seemed to transform into something reminiscent of high quality vanilla extract. More brown sugar. Bit of semisweet chocolate too. Amazing.
The flavor profile mimicked the nose pretty closely. The beer tasted a bit artificial and plastic-y initially but improved notably as it opened up. Strong roasted malt notes on the front end. Somewhat milky. Loads of punchy vanilla extract. A nice brown sugar-like sweetness was also apparent. Bourbon vanilla notes appeared mid-palate. Strong semisweet chocolate presence as well. The booziness increased slightly as the liquid moved along the palate. More vanilla, brown sugar and bourbon on the finish.
Outstanding mouthfeel. Super fluffy and smooth. Medium bodied for the style. The liquid contained a fine, zippy effervescence that frothed up really nicely on the palate. By the beer’s end, the liquid left a slightly sticky film on my lips.
Madagascar is one of the most vanilla-forward beers I have ever tried, and one of the most impressive of this style. Unlike most vanilla-infused stouts, which are often sweet and boozy, this was surprising balanced. If you own a bottle, be patient with this beer and give it some time to warm because it gets remarkably better as it opens up.
1,999 characters
4.23/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.44/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours black with an eggshell thin layer of khaki fizz. Aroma is strong vanilla, with bourbon, char, and roasted and toasted malts. It smells like a vanilla Coca-Cola. Flavor profile is vanilla bean, milk chocolate, bourbon, char, and roasted and toasted malts. Bourbon is certainly present, but is balanced well enough to keep from being boozy. Really, the bourbon just adds a little extra character and depth in an otherwise thin flavor profile. All total, it tastes like Vanilla Coca-Cola, with emphasis on the vanilla. Mouth feel is thin, fizzy and harsh - it drinks like a soda pop, albeit a little smoother. Fortunate note here is that it thickens up just a bit as the beer warms, but it is still barely scraping "medium-thin". Overall, it's thin and harsh, which isn't good for any beer especially a stout. Vanilla notes are strong and refrain from coming across as artificial, which is a plus, but beyond that isn't much.
Served in a 12oz snifter from a 22oz bottle.
975 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours black with an eggshell thin layer of khaki fizz. Aroma is strong vanilla, with bourbon, char, and roasted and toasted malts. It smells like a vanilla Coca-Cola. Flavor profile is vanilla bean, milk chocolate, bourbon, char, and roasted and toasted malts. Bourbon is certainly present, but is balanced well enough to keep from being boozy. Really, the bourbon just adds a little extra character and depth in an otherwise thin flavor profile. All total, it tastes like Vanilla Coca-Cola, with emphasis on the vanilla. Mouth feel is thin, fizzy and harsh - it drinks like a soda pop, albeit a little smoother. Fortunate note here is that it thickens up just a bit as the beer warms, but it is still barely scraping "medium-thin". Overall, it's thin and harsh, which isn't good for any beer especially a stout. Vanilla notes are strong and refrain from coming across as artificial, which is a plus, but beyond that isn't much.
Served in a 12oz snifter from a 22oz bottle.
975 characters
Madagascar from 4 Hands Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
4.45 out of
5 with
827 ratings
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