1516 and 1517 were a couple of big years in Germany, although there was no German nation at the time. Still, it was in 1516 that the Bavarians decreed their famous Reinheitsgebot beer purity law. A year later and to the north in Wittenberg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Martin Luther nailed his 95 these to the door of the local church and started the Protestant Reformation.
Today, I’m enjoying a crowler of Reformation 500 Anniversary Quad, a beer brewed by the Reformation brewery of Woodstock, Georgia, to celebrate their own 4th anniversary and the 500th of the Reformation in 2017. Personally, I wonder that they didn’t go with a German style brew rather than a Belgian, but hey, I love quads so its all good.
Reformation 500 Anniversary Quad was released in October of 2017. I bought a crowler at Stout’s on January 20th of 2018 and drank it on Sunday (apropos that?) April 8th. There is a barrel aged version, which is not what I am reviewing, though the label and bottle photos form Reformation and shown here reflect that beer.
Reformations says:
Celebrating 500 years of the Protestant Reformation, this Quadrupel Ale is available October, 2017 as we reflect on 4 years serving our community. Look for our anniversary release on draft throughout the month in our Keeping Room and in the market.
Reformation 500 Anniversary Quad has an alcohol content of 10.1% by volume and I paid $11.25 for a 32-ounce crowler at Stout’s.
Reformation 500 Anniversary Quad pours to a dark brown color with a thin fizzy head and a bit of candyish malt, phenols and plums in the nose. Taking a sip, the beer is full and rich in body, thick and syrupy with notes of caramel, raisin, cinnamon toast, phenols, and a gently floral, warm alcohol dark fruity finish.
Rich and complex, Reformation 500 Anniversary Quad is a beer worth of an anniversary celebration. Be it 4 years or 500.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft