4 Hands Madagascar (65.1cl, 9.3%)

A bourbon barrel-aged imperial milk stout from 4 Hands Brewing Company, brewed with hand-cut Madagascar vanilla beans and bottled at 9.3% ABV in a 651 ml bottle. The base beer is an imperial milk stout fermented with lactose, then aged in bourbon barrels. Each Madagascar vanilla bean is hand-cut before addition to increase surface area and flavour extraction. Dark chocolate leads the aroma, followed by rich vanilla and subtle coconut sweetness from the barrel, with espresso roast beneath. The palate is silky and creamy, with sweet chocolate, nut and vanilla notes, balanced by espresso bitterness. The finish brings roasty char, toasted oak and dark cocoa.