Madagascar
4 Hands Brewing Co.
- From:
- 4 Hands Brewing Co.
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- Imperial Pastry Stout
Ranked #155 - ABV:
- 12.8%
- Score:
- 98
Ranked #367 - Avg:
- 4.43 | pDev: 7.22%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 126
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 24, 2026
- Added:
- Feb 15, 2014
- Wants:
- 460
- Gots:
- 151
SCORE
98
World-Class
98
World-Class
Imperial Milk Stout aged in bourbon barrels with whole Madagascar vanilla beans. Madagascar is full-bodied with strong notes of vanilla, marshmallow, chocolate, and coffee.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Roguer:
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
4.59/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
4.59/5 rDev +3.6%
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.
Oct 13, 2018Very 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.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Beersnake from California
4.46/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured at fridge temp. Pours a moderately thick black. Not much head. The nose is full of vanilla, bourbon, marshmallow, and chocolate.
The taste is fantastic. A vanilla bomb for sure. Marshmallow, caramel, chocolate, cake batter, bourbon, and a slight hint of coffee. Lovely.
The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a strong vanilla aftertaste.
Apr 24, 2026The taste is fantastic. A vanilla bomb for sure. Marshmallow, caramel, chocolate, cake batter, bourbon, and a slight hint of coffee. Lovely.
The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a strong vanilla aftertaste.
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
4.38/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Black pour with a big, creamy beige head. The aroma brings vanilla, chocolate, and a touch of light bourbon. Those same notes carry into a moderately sweet, malty taste. Smooth, balanced, and surprisingly easy to drink.
Mar 23, 2026Reviewed by selceeus from Missouri
4.12/5 rDev -7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.12/5 rDev -7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Canned 2/10/25
Pours Black with a slight tappering head. Whispers of chocolate, coffee, and marshmallow. Strong vanilla, sweetness, and bourbon. It has just enough carbonation to feel light and silky, with a delicate mouthfeel.
Feb 14, 2026Pours Black with a slight tappering head. Whispers of chocolate, coffee, and marshmallow. Strong vanilla, sweetness, and bourbon. It has just enough carbonation to feel light and silky, with a delicate mouthfeel.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
4.24/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16oz can. Date stamp on bottom is '01/22/24'. Label is marked '2024'.
Black colored body. One finger of tan colored head, which results in islands, a minor surface storm, and a ring. A few scattered lacing spots are left behind.
Aroma is sweet with vanilla, dark roasted malts, chocolate, bourbon barrel, and a little coffee.
Taste is also sweet but the vapors from the bourbon barrel travel from the mouth to the nose. Lots of sweet vanilla. Also chocolate, marshmallow, and a hint of coffee. Long lasting aftertaste continues with the sweet vanilla and bourbon barrel.
More than medium mouthfeel. Sticky and somewhat thick. Constant low burn on the tongue. Good carbonation.
Not complex or layered but the bourbon barrel makes itself known. Vanilla makes it very sweet.
Jul 03, 2025Black colored body. One finger of tan colored head, which results in islands, a minor surface storm, and a ring. A few scattered lacing spots are left behind.
Aroma is sweet with vanilla, dark roasted malts, chocolate, bourbon barrel, and a little coffee.
Taste is also sweet but the vapors from the bourbon barrel travel from the mouth to the nose. Lots of sweet vanilla. Also chocolate, marshmallow, and a hint of coffee. Long lasting aftertaste continues with the sweet vanilla and bourbon barrel.
More than medium mouthfeel. Sticky and somewhat thick. Constant low burn on the tongue. Good carbonation.
Not complex or layered but the bourbon barrel makes itself known. Vanilla makes it very sweet.
Reviewed by Falcon91Wolvrn03 from California
4.32/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Look - Pours a pitch-black color with a medium head that goes away after a short while.
Smell - A very nice vanilla scent dominates the nose with a hint of bourbon. Fairly simple, but pretty good.
Taste - A sweet vanilla and a touch of bourbon. I'm not getting much of anything else, but the vanilla and bourbon is nice.
Feel - Good carbonation, nice creaminess, no aftertaste. A very nice mouthfeel!
Overall - I find this to be a simple stout, that is mostly just vanilla with a little bit of bourbon, but I find that to be very nice combination!
May 17, 2025Smell - A very nice vanilla scent dominates the nose with a hint of bourbon. Fairly simple, but pretty good.
Taste - A sweet vanilla and a touch of bourbon. I'm not getting much of anything else, but the vanilla and bourbon is nice.
Feel - Good carbonation, nice creaminess, no aftertaste. A very nice mouthfeel!
Overall - I find this to be a simple stout, that is mostly just vanilla with a little bit of bourbon, but I find that to be very nice combination!
Rated by pathman from Ohio
4.5/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
05/01/25 can @ home
May 02, 2025
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!