Little's Key Lime Express
Wiley Roots Brewing Co

a special bottle of beer, generously shared with me! a collaboration with one of the best liquor stores around, littles, which always seems to have one of the best selections, and definitely one of the finest staffs anywhere! this is a grisette fermented with brett, key limes, and rosewater of all things, a super interesting beer, and one i am surprised hasnt been added here yet, given its over a year old and the newfound popularity and relevance of wiley roots, who is positively killing it right now, especially with these types of beers! its thicker looking than expected, and a little darker golden too, hazy deep golden yellow to brass, without a ton of head after the initial pour but enough carbonation to tickle my nostrils when i try to inhale this wonderful aroma! pops like a soda. the smells is awesome, heaps of fresh key lime zest, and i mean key lime as distinct from the standard grocery store lime, uniquely specific to the key lime and i love than, an almost lemon note to it, tons of zest and even acid from it, with an almost candied profile as well, lightly perfumy with whats left of the rosewater, and a light new oak profile too with just a hint of delicate white wine. the flavor is awesome, although there isnt a ton of rosewater here, i suspect its faded some, but i also suspect its always been subservient to the lime, enhancing rather than sharing the spotlight. the grain bill isnt quite as complex and layered as i usually look for in grisette, but appears to be wheat based and starchy, which is close enough, a big enough platform to extend the citrus flavor. there is an awesome funk here, and i imagine the time in the bottle has allowed the brett to develop in this flattering way, belgian and funky, musty, and hay-like, dank and damp like a basement, and a rotting wood feature as well, a fine juxtaposition against the freshness of the key lime, which is hugely forward in this, almost overdone. faint floral perfume and minerals and vanilla, a saison yeast tannic thing too, and white grape and apricot notes as well. lively carbonation and a finish thats working toward dry. i am so glad to have had this special bottle shared with me, i was afraid i missed the opportunity to try it! really unique beer, very well done, drinking wonderfully right now! bravo!

edit: somehow this is still drinking amazingly well, and the rosewater still pops, i would have thought such a delicate element like that would have faded out over time, but that just isnt the case, and this tastes a lot now four and a half years later like it did when i first enjoyed it, the lime hasnt fallen off at all either, and the yeast is holding steady, maybe a little more funk here now, but there is no oxidation or anything at all, almost shocking, but its true! so zesty and complex but also thirst quenching, the carbonation is on point, and it seems like this could just keep on going in the cellar. felt rare and special to be able to drink this again after all this time, and its amazing how well its doing. probably just about gone in the wild, but if you ever get the chance to drink one of these, jump on it, even now!