Madagascar | 4 Hands Brewing Co.

4.1/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finally got to try this. Good amount of vanilla in this, with hints of chocolate. My old complaint with it is that the body is a bit weird. I think maybe because it's a milk stout instead of a RIS? Also, there's quite a bit more carbonation than I normally like.

Also, I think maybe the lactose in this is
throwing me off and giving me a weird kind of aftertaste. Although, it seems characteristic of 4 Hands stouts. I guess it doesn't help that all their stouts are milk stouts.

That being said, it's still really good and not overly sweet. Glad I got to pick it up

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4.22/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

4/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.33/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.59/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Absolutely beautiful right from the pour. A solid finger of dark brown foam sits atop an inviting, ebony black brew. Head retention is very good for the style.

Very sweet on the nose, with bourbon, vanilla, and cream really dominating from the outset. Deeper inspection yields brown sugar, oak, molasses, and chocolate. Very smooth aroma; not the slightest bit overpowering or intimidating - likely owing to the relatively low ABV for a BBA imperial stout (sub-10%).

Flavor follows, with tons of vanilla nearly overwhelming a creamy, smooth roasted malt base which itself yields tones of chocolate, coffee, and toffee. Bourbon right on the front edge manages to get its foot in the door before the vanilla rudely shoves it away - I love vanilla, so I don't see a problem there! The bourbon occasionally makes recurrences, with notes of sweet mash, and to a lesser extent, coconut and oak.

Very smooth on the palate. No heat; slick but with a reasonable amount of liveliness. Long, wet finish, with a bit of lasting barrel influence.

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3.92/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.39/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

5/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I should start by admitting that I am a vanilla junkie. There is a perfect amount of vanilla flavor In this and it perfectly balances the bourbon barrel flavor from dominating. Great job!

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4.42/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

4.14/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

4.41/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

4.46/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

4.29/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.18/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.4/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2018

4 characters

4.04/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.2/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

4.35/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

4.54/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

4.29/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

4.45/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5