Madagascar Blueberry Maple
4 Hands Brewing Co.

 

On draft at PapPo's Pizzeria. Poured an opaque, jet-black color with a small, tan head of foam. It left minimal lacing. It smelled strongly of maple syrup, blueberry, chocolate and toffee. Some oak and vanilla notes, too. Sweet maple taste with some blueberry, chocolate, vanilla and toffee.

Pours inky black to the glass. Aroma is a strong split between maple and blueberry, with some vanilla in the background. First sips bring a bright, slightly bitter blueberry taste (think real blueberry skin bitter), held up by a solid maple presence. Not getting much bourbon or barrel over the strong adjunct effects, but it’s not a negative. The stout base really lays low on the bottom, at times coming across as an ale. The medium mouthfeel lends itself to that sort of cross-style confusion. Vanilla peeks in on the tongue very late. It seems boozier than the 10% ABV would suggest. Overall, very enjoyable even in this hot and humid weather.

Draft poured thick black with a thin ring of tan head. Aroma is maple, blueberry, and oak. Taste follows the nose. There is a bit of blueberry pancakes flavor profile. The blueberry and maple tamp down and conflict with the oak barrel. I think this is an example where the adjuncts subtract from the base beer instead of adding to it. It’s a bit sweet and too syrupy, and lacked sufficient carbonation. Tastes pretty good and I enjoyed it just fine, but not really worth the cost to have more than one.

 

 

 

Look - black thick syrup
Smell - blueberry maple syrup
Taste - same as smell
Fell - medium body and feel
Overall - nothing outstanding but ok