Westward American Two Malts Bridgeport Brewing Co.

Nose: Malt, ale, espresso-roast coffee, roasted nuts. A distant hint of rye spices – caraway, mint. Palate: Mildly spicy/sweet arrival, grains, malt, dark ale, rye spice. The development reveals earthier cereal notes and malt extract along with a little chocolate, and there's some nougat and fruit in the later stages. The palate has a pleasant fresh and crisp quality, but it could be considered a bit thin. Finish: Medium. Sweet, malty, and fruity. An ale flavor lingers into the aftertaste. This was an Australian exclusive release, and the second such exclusive from Westward released here. It's rich in profile and, like the first (which I've reviewed previously), strongly suggests a strong, dark craft ale. This impression starts subtly but builds throughout the tasting until, by the time you finish the dram, it feels like you've just consumed a half-pint of red ale. The proof is excellent for the spirit and carries the flavor very well while remaining mostly hidden. There is a warming heat, but it's not an overly 'hot' spirit, and I finished my dram without even considering adding water. Rye spices are definitely detected throughout, but they are very well integrated, and the rye content of the spirit never seems dominant. Tasted from a 20ml sample. “Very Good”: 85/100 (4 stars)