Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Co. - "Kankitsu" lager

This pint caught my eye at the Whole Foods in Tenleytown, and for $3.50 I bought it on spec without looking too much into it. It's from Gaithersburg, MD-based Elder Pine Brewing & Blending, a superlative brewery that sells a lot of product through D'Vines. I love Elder Pine, so I'm confident whatever is in the can is going to be good. 

Reading the ingredients - it's a "Japanese-inspired lager brewed with rice, green tea, lemon grass, and lime" and clocking in at 5.50% ABV. OK, very cool! That sounds very pleasant and seasonally-appropriate.

Pours swiftly into my tulip glass. Generates a light and zesty aroma, not unlike lemon peels. 

Whoa, OK. this is good. First there's this burst of lime, melding into a more herbal and rounded green tea that's silky-smooth, finishing with a notable grassiness and then a definite rice character as the beer wraps up. There's a touch of salt on the finish, which is quite welcome, and provides a savory character that lingers on the tongue after swallowing. 

What's most striking is the flavor development here - like some other beers I've reviewed, the flavors are "layered" and each ingredient makes a noticeable appearance throughout the drinking process. The opposite would be a beer that's "monolithic" or presents an even taste throughout. I usually find these "layered" beers quite fun, as they usually involve a simple style like a lager which forms a canvas on which to experiment with light, summery flavors. The use of lime, which is significant here, as well as tea and salt really transform this a base beer into something unique, and I hope they continue to produce it.