Keypunch by Urban Artifact is an interesting, quite refreshing offering that delivers very well on the aroma of key lime, but is a little weaker on the presentation for the flavor. This beer is being evaluated as a Category 29A Fruit Beer with a Category 27 Historical Beer – Gose base as per the 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines.
A strong fresh lime aroma with a touch of pith along with a light wheaty cereal character in the background is evident upon the pour. Very little other malt character is evident, as expected. The beer is a very hazy straw color with a wispy white small bubble head that dissipates almost immediately, which is atypical for the style. Normally a Gose has a solid, well-retained head.
The flavor is significantly more subtle than the aroma. A mild lime flavor leads, with a background of other fruits such as orange and lemon, coriander and a touch of cereal note similar to a graham cracker crust, which is quite interesting in itself. These flavors present themselves without any sweetness, which is appreciated so as to not make this a flabby dessert beer. The salt level is moderate but not excessive for the style. Tartness is also on the subtle side, which is appropriate for the overall flavor to not bring it out of balance. However, the finish and aftertaste is rather weak and watery, having the character of a lightly flavored moderately carbonated mineral water. The body is quite thin, perhaps a little light for style.
Overall, this is a very refreshing, thirst-quenching offering.