Reformation Brewery - Jude

This Belgian-style tripel pours a bright golden and lightly hazy color, topped by a large head of foam that drops to a persistent collar that’s kept constantly fed by a stream of tiny bubbles from our nucleated Duvel tulip. On the nose, expect Jude to present quite a Belgian character with prominent spicy-herbal and earthy contributions from the melding of EKG and Hallertau hops with the big Belgian yeast-driven phenols we expect in this style. Shades of stone fruits and apple skins pop through, as well. Jude is quite bold on the palate, too – as we expect for a well-made tripel. This is a high gravity beer that’s packed with malt, yet the lifting carbonation and elevated alcohol keeps this quite lively. We get tons of phenolic clove-like spice notes which play foil to a contrasting array of fruity esters evoking a cocktail of orchard fruits. The elevated ABV, though well-hidden, amplifies and lifts the spicier notes to easily balance the residual malt sweetness in concert with some modest hop bitterness, resulting in a dry, lingering finish. The brewery recommends pairing their tripel with smoked barbecued ribs, extra sharp cheddar, or crispy fried chicken, and we concur. This brew will cut through fattier dishes like roasted duck, and will pair well with earthy, bloomy double & triple crème, and stinky washed-rind cheeses. Dessert pairings like apple pie or peach cobbler can be revelatory too, for those with a sweet tooth. Cheers!

Reformation Brewery didn’t begin as a lifelong dream followed by years and years of careful planning. It was actually a bit of an accident. Co-founders Spencer Nix and Nick Downs met and became friends years ago when Nick was a Delta pilot who would bring great European beers back with him to the US. This was at a time before the craft beer revolution had reached the Southeast in a significant way. When Nick eventually moved up to flying larger planes and his routes became more global, his supply of European brews dried up. Fatefully, Nick and Spencer decided they’d just make the beers themselves, and began homebrewing. As they routinely produced more than they could consume, they began inviting folks over to drink up the stock… and things spiraled from there. Over the next few years these events grew massively; sometimes as many as 150 people would show up, often traveling from other states to experience Nick & Spencer’s great beer – and the great community that had sprung up around it.

With their friends encouraging them – and offering to invest – the duo decided to open their own official brewery, with Reformation Brewery coming to life in Woodstock, GA in 2013. The company’s entire ethos remains focused around the fantastic conversation, camaraderie, and sense of community that led Reformation to its genesis in the first place. On this path, they’ve opened additional locations in Canton and Smyrna, the former now serving as the main production location for their numerous year-round, seasonal, and limited production offerings. In addition to beer, Reformation also produces ranch waters and other canned cocktails, as well as a line of spirits. For more info, visit them at reformationbrewery.com.