4 Hands Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout 4Pk is an 8.5% ABV imperial milk stout brewed with cacao nibs and milk sugar, sold in a four-pack. Produced by St. Louis-based 4 Hands Brewing Company, this expression dials up the intensity of their popular Chocolate Milk Stout line by loading two pounds of cacao nibs per barrel alongside lactose for a rich, full-bodied experience.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.5%  |  Origin: St. Louis, Missouri, USA  |  Style: Imperial Milk Stout  |  Brewery: 4 Hands Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

4 Hands Brewing Company was founded in 2011 in the LaSalle Park neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, and has built a reputation for bold, inventive styles across its lineup. The Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout uses two pounds of cacao nibs per barrel — significantly more than typical chocolate stout recipes — combined with milk sugar (lactose) to create a beer that balances roasted malt intensity with creamy sweetness. The brewery describes this expression as their standard Chocolate Milk Stout "cranked all the way up," pushing the ABV to 8.5% while amplifying the chocolate and lactose character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intense chocolate dominates the nose, shifting between baking chocolate and milk chocolate. Underneath, subtle roasted grain and a faint sweetness from the lactose round out the bouquet.

Taste: The entry is immediately rich with layered chocolate — dark and bittersweet at first, softening into milky sweetness at mid-palate. Roasted malt flavors emerge alongside a noticeable alcohol warmth that reminds you this is an imperial-strength beer. A measured bitterness keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying, adding welcome structure.

Finish: The finish is long and chocolatey, with lingering cocoa and a smooth, creamy texture from the lactose. Residual roastiness and gentle warming alcohol slowly fade, leaving a dessert-like impression.

How to Drink Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout

Pour into a tulip glass or snifter at cellar temperature (around 50–55°F) to fully appreciate the aroma and body; drinking it too cold mutes the chocolate complexity. For cocktail-style applications, this stout works well in a Beer Float paired with vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert drink, a Black Velvet variation where it replaces traditional stout with richer chocolate depth, or a Stout Espresso Martini riff blended with cold espresso and a touch of coffee liqueur to amplify the roasted character.

Best For

• Dessert course pairing at a dinner party
• Cold-weather evening sessions by the fire
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who loves dark, rich stouts
• Sharing among friends who want to explore imperial-strength styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 4 Hands Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout taste like? It delivers intense chocolate flavor — ranging from baking cocoa to milk chocolate — layered with creamy lactose sweetness, roasted malt, and a warming 8.5% ABV backbone. The bitterness is measured, making it surprisingly drinkable for a big, sweet imperial stout.

How does 4 Hands Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout compare to Left Hand Milk Stout? Left Hand Milk Stout is a session-friendly milk stout at around 6% ABV with moderate chocolate and coffee notes, while the 4 Hands Imperial version pushes to 8.5% ABV with two pounds of cacao nibs per barrel for a significantly more intense chocolate experience. The 4 Hands expression is fuller-bodied, sweeter, and more dessert-forward by comparison.

Is 4 Hands Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout good for sipping neat? Yes — its full body, layered chocolate character, and smooth lactose creaminess make it well suited to slow, contemplative sipping, ideally poured into a snifter at cellar temperature.

Where is 4 Hands Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout made? It is brewed at 4 Hands Brewing Company in the LaSalle Park neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, where the brewery has operated since its founding in 2011.

What foods pair well with 4 Hands Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout? Chocolate lava cake amplifies the cacao nib character; sharp aged cheddar provides a savory contrast to the lactose sweetness; smoked brisket matches the roasted malt backbone; vanilla bean cheesecake echoes the creamy finish; and chili-spiced dark chocolate introduces complementary heat.

What sizes does 4 Hands Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout come in? It is commonly available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format for this expression.

Is 4 Hands Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout worth the price? It positions as a premium craft imperial stout, and the use of two pounds of cacao nibs per barrel places it among the more ingredient-intensive chocolate stouts at its price tier, delivering strong value for fans of bold, dessert-style beers.

Why Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout?

The defining detail here is the cacao nib load — two pounds per barrel is a generous addition that translates directly into the beer's unmistakable chocolate intensity. Unlike many chocolate stouts that rely primarily on roasted specialty malts for their cocoa character, 4 Hands builds flavor from actual cacao, creating a more authentic and layered chocolate profile. At 8.5% ABV, it carries its weight gracefully, with the lactose providing enough cushion to keep the alcohol warmth integrated rather than harsh. For anyone seeking a genuinely chocolate-forward imperial stout from a respected Midwestern brewery, this four-pack delivers substance over gimmick.