“I love that we are not just a job but we are a community. Every single person who works here is friends with everyone else who works here.” – Paul Clark

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Meet the Crew: Paul Clark

STORY

Our Reformation Crew is the backbone of who we are and what we do. They are often the unknown faces and stories behind the well-known places and products you love. You can’t taste our drinks or enjoy our spaces without interacting with one of our incredible crew members.

This is why we launched a brand new series this past May highlighting our crew and featuring their stories called, “Meet the Crew.” Every 4-6 weeks, we will feature one crew member in a blog post and a fun video on social media to share their unique roles and personalities. So you can get to know the stories behind the faces. | Check out past features and faces by visiting our Stories tab.

FEATURING: Paul Clark, Project Manager, “Making sure everything we have works and looks great!”

For our next crew member, we want to introduce you to the resourceful, playful, jack-of-all-trades, and husband to Danica, Paul Clark, our Project Manager. With Reformation since 2019, you have probably seen Paul walking the yard to check on guests, adjust a T.V., install a sign, setup new lights, build structures, or even painting our newest mural in the Woodstock taproom (a quote and landscape inspired by one of Jonathan Peyton’s songs).

Although he started as a bartender (or “beertender” and host, as Paul says) and moved more into a project management and venue experience role, when he’s not creating, fixing, or building, you can still find Paul interacting with guests, guiding them through the menu for a delicious product, laughing with fellow service crew, or joining a team meeting to find out how to keep our venues working well and looking great. With a sharp eye for detail, endless ideas for improved guest experiences, and a strong opinion about almost everything (we love you Paul!), he pours his heart and soul into his craft and loves working with a coworkers he considers friends and family. Paul’s hard work, work ethic, and his can-do attitude bring an infectious energy to our culture to always be reforming.

When Paul is not fixing and figuring, he can be found with his wife Danica and their furry kids hiking, hanging with friends, on the lake, or experimenting in the kitchen.

Get to know more about Paul and what makes him who he is in the full video story and Q&A interview below.

Behind-the-scenes video story of Paul in his element and in a sit-down Q&A interview.

GET TO KNOW PAUL CLARK– Q&A

Do you have a fun nickname at work?

“I go by Danica’s husband a lot. That’s always fun. Um, ‘You’. Ha. No, I don’t have any nicknames here. There is one nickname but this person doesn’t know that I know they call me this so I won’t throw that out there.”

Who do you laugh at the most and why?

“Oh gosh, all we do is goof around and have a good time. We get a lot done but we laugh a lot. Probably Lyric, it’s gotta be Lyric. Danica scares me too much, I got to stay on my toes around that one.”

Favorite part of your job?

“I love that every week I am on a new challenge. I love that I can come in and be given crazy problems that I get to creatively solve. I love that every single day I wake up it looks different than the day before. I love being able to wake up and never get bored of my job.”

What is your all-time favorite Reformation moment?

“Oh, this is an easy answer. Such an easy answer. New Year’s Eve this past year (Dec. 2022) at The Keg Drop. The keg dropped, I got to kiss my wife and jump up on the container as the confetti went off as the Bulldogs beat Ohio State and it was spectacular. Go Dawgs!”

What is your favorite Reformation beer and the most underrated?

“The beer snob in me says my all-time favorite is Gluten Tog, our pumpernickel Dunkel. The not-so-beer-snob kid in me loved the Pineapple Milkshake IPA when I first got hired. Milkshake IPAs are almost always way too sweet and thick but this one was unreal. The most underrated beer we’ve ever had could be the Watermelon JOGR we had – we only had two kegs of it. Or it could be the Peanut Butter Cup Porter we have on tap right now.”

What are some hidden talents or special interests?

“I have a little bit of ADHD so I have a new special interest every week. I love love love documentaries. If I could sit down and watch a documentary every day, I would. I would get nothing done and my wife would not watch them with me. I just got out of my crime documentary phase and now into my food science phase researching what happens when you dry out oranges. Or what happens on a chemical level when you smoke meat. It’s an all-time hobby of mine. I think I am pretty good as a home chef. I like to cook a little bit of everything. I love smoking meat; what guy doesn’t? I love experimenting with fermentation which is what I got my Masters in. I can throw down on a mean steak or seafood. I love making kombucha.”

The most unique place to enjoy a drink with friends?

“It’s hard to get away from Reformation. Everything about our venue and our products I love. Other than here, I love having people over to our house and hosting and having cocktails.”

Beach or mountains?

“Summer? Beach. Winter? Mountains. I grew up in the mountains and I love them. So, mountains.”

Favorite outdoor North Georgia activity?

“I love hiking and backpacking. You got to go to Jack’s River Falls in Cohutta. It’s absolutely wonderful.”

Ultimate Walk-up Music?

“I have thought about this question a hundred times. Maybe Bullets by Creed. Back in the Saddle by Aerosmith. My music taste is all over the place. Anything by Turnstyle.“

Famous person, dead or alive, you’d want to spend the day with?

“Probably Ronnie Van Zant, the original songwriter and singer for Lynrd Skynrd. Half the band died in a plane crash in 1977. But their whole thing was, ‘We are rock stars but we go home and cut our grass on weekends just like you.’ Super down-to-earth.

Favorite genre of music?

“It’s got to be 80’s. I think music is on a 15-year cycle where it peaks and then it gets bad and repeats. We’re on the way up to a peak. I think the early to mid 80’s was a peak peak.”

Where are you from and where do you call home?

“I call Woodstock home so it’s convenient to pop in and make sure everything is running smooth. I grew up originally in Woodstock but before that, I lived in West Virginia. It has a wonderful community culture and a unique social identity. They love to embrace the Appalachian culture. I miss the snow a lot.”

What is one thing you love about Reformation culture?

“I love that we are not just a job but a community. Every single person who works here is friends with every other person who works here. It’s incredibly collaborative and every person is cooperative. We are probably the most coherent group of coworkers that I have ever been in.“

What is one thing you are super excited about for Reformation’s future?

“I am excited for us to continue to grow as a community gathering place not just a brewery. We are really pushing into directions that just encourage people to spend time here – to work from here, to meet here, to just gather with their friends here. I think that is something we are missing in our society in general.”

A pastor and a pilot start home brewing beer…

It sounds like the beginning of a good dad joke, but it’s a key part of our brand story and the values behind everything we love. November is National Entrepreneurship Month and we wanted to take a moment to honor our two entrepreneur/co-founders and OG reformers: Spencer Nix (former pastor), and Nick Downs (the pilot).

These two friends — along with their families and so many friends and supporters along the way — took a leap of faith over ten years ago. The risks to see their dreams become reality. To set beer free and liberate it into a new community of timeless values. From homebrewers to hometown brewery, Spencer and Nick embody the entrepreneurial spirit alive in our culture, values, and our growing community of reformers. They recognize entrepreneurship is definitely a community sport and are proudly in Cherokee by choice.

So, cheers to all the dreamers, doers, and reformers who never settle for being settled.

Woodstock, you brought the trick to our treat and the scare to the square! What a fun night celebrating all things fun dressing up, getting into character, and enjoying laughs, dances, and Halloween-themed drinks. || Special thanks again to Lindsay Ann of https://www.photosbylindsayann.com/.

Bracelet exchanges, live DJ, special Swifty-themed slushies and drink specials, decked-out taproom, parents dancing!, and lots of bestie moments all wrapped around Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated relaunch of her “1989” album. We loved seeing everyone come out in the Summer to celebrate Swift, we just had to experience the fun again. What an incredible night surrounded by such a loving community. Cheers to you, friends, and all your Swifty support! || Special thanks to Lindsay Ann of https://www.photosbylindsayann.com/ for the great pics!

North Georgia Made Makers – stories of makers from North Georgia (full video story below).

At Reformation, we are proudly North Georgia Made — located at the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains with three taprooms uniquely positioned to give our guests memorable outdoor experiences along trails and rivers.

As makers ourselves, we know both the challenges and pleasures of making handcrafted products high in quality and value for our loyal fans. North Georgia comprises a variety of hardworking and dedicated artists and makers who love their craft and love sharing it with their local community. As we prepare to enter Fall and our 10th-anniversary season, we could not think of a better way to tell the story of being North Georgia Made than highlighting the makers in our community and sharing their inspiring stories.

In this first pilot episode, we chose to feature one of our local vendors and handmade leather craftsman, Nate Bridges of Alpine Leather & Supply, Co. Nate’s story of taking the entrepreneurial leap in college, discovering a love for leather on a trip to Nashville, and overcoming challenges will leave you inspired and ready to engage the maker in you.

Nate’s shop is located at The Mill on Etowah in Canton, just a few steps from our taproom and main production facility. We hope you enjoy this story and it spurs you to not only support your local community of makers but get busy making something too. Cheers to the reformers and makers in all of us!

Learn more about Nate and grab one of his handmade goods from Alpine Leather & Supply, Co.

Follow our story and learn more about what it means to be North Georgia Made.

*Stay tuned for hopefully more to come in this series focused on makers. Cheers to the makers and reformers in all of us.

Live music, pup ice cream, dog licking, furry friendships, puppy merch, and more – our Reformation Pup Crawl on Saturday, August 26th celebrating National Dog Day was a barking blast! Thanks for celebrating with us and bringing your furry friends out in style! Special thanks to Tyler Anderson at Southern Photo Co. for the great pics!

“I love that it is so family friendly here I can bring my daughter and she can play in the yard and I can enjoy a craft beer. It’s a place of community. There are always good conversations. I feel like any time you walk into our taproom you are gonna know somebody and somebody is going to remember your name.” — Aly Talley

Meet the Crew: Aly Talley

STORY

Our Reformation Crew is the backbone of who we are and what we do. They are often the unknown faces and stories behind the well-known places and products you love. You can’t taste our drinks or enjoy our spaces without interacting with one of our incredible crew members.

This is why we launched a brand new series this May highlighting our crew and featuring their stories called, “Meet the Crew.” Each month, we will feature one crew member in a blog post and a fun video on social media to share their unique roles and personalities.

FEATURING: Aly Talley, Community Coordinator, “Magician of Chaos”

For our next crew member, we want to introduce you to Aly Talley, our Community Coordinator and “Magician of Chaos” responsible for planning public events across all three taprooms (Woodstock, Canton, Smyrna), working with the cities and developments surrounding those taprooms, and manages community relationships. With Reformation since 2018, You have probably seen Aly behind the bar in Woodstock or Canton serving guests, decorating for our next big moment (a.k.a. Taylor Swift Night, Stranger Things event 2022, Cadence Fairs, 20’s Speak Easy, to name a few), or thriving alongside her fellow crewmates in the midst of event chaos. She brings her eye for interior design, love for people, and passion for creating magical moments worth celebrating. She does it with class and spunk.

When Aly is not redesigning our taproom for fun moments, she can be found enjoying the lake with her friends, listening to live music with her besties, or hanging with her two favorite people: her husband and daughter.

Get to know Aly and what makes her who she is in the fun video below.

GET TO KNOW ALY TALLEY– Q&A

Do you have a fun nickname at work?

My coworkers call me Aly Talley or Alison Tallison. I feel like since my name rhymes they think it’s fun. And our Creative Director gave me the title of “Magician of Chaos.”

Favorite part of your job?

I think the behind-the-scenes and leading up to the big moment is always really fun. Walking into to our taproom and seeing our staff crushing it and them enjoying the moment as well as our community; it’s packed, it’s wild, it’s chaotic. It’s my favorite part.

What generation do you most identify with?

I fall in the middle of a Millennial and a Gen Z. But, I feel like I would have really thrived in the ’70’s because it was groovy and funky and there were disco balls (holds up a peace sign).

What is your all-time favorite Reformation moment?

I really loved our Stranger Things event in 2022. It was a huge turnout. There were people of all ages here. I also just love Stranger Things so it was a lot of fun to plan. Another big event was the Cadence Fair 2021. It was my first year planning and organizing the Cadence Fair. Our team did a fantastic job and we all worked together. It was awesome seeing that day turn out like it did. It was beautiful weather, the yard was packed, and everyone really enjoyed it.

What is your favorite Reformation beer and the most underrated?

My favorite of all time would be Wilder – it was a fruited ale with black currant and cranberry. My favorite most underrated drink would be Forage – our key-lime sour.

What are some hidden talents or special interests?

My two hidden talents are I can tumble and throw some back tucks and I can say my alphabet backwards at the same speed I can forwards.

The most unique place to enjoy a drink with friends?

The Diamond Jack Wine Bar in Maryville, Tennessee. I really love it because my cousins actually own it. They’ve done an incredible job. It’s very vibey and eclectic and the drinks are always really fun and pretty.

Beach or mountains?

Beach because I can just sit there all day and I don’t like to hike. So, beach.

Famous person, dead or alive, you’d want to spend the day with?

It would have to be Matthew McConaughey. I would like to sit on a ranch by the bonfire, drinking a glass of whiskey. “It’d be a lot cooler if I did.”

What would your walkup music be?

All Gold Everything by Trinidad James or Coming Undone by Korn. Ultimately, probably rap. But also if you played Amarillo by Morning by George Strait I’d be ready to go.

Favorite genre of music?

Probably current-day country, kind of Americana music. Zach Bryan, Jonathan Peyton (who is headlining Candence Fair this year). They are all my favorites.

Where are you from and where do you call home?

I have lived in a couple of different states so a lot of places have pieces of home to me. But I think now ultimately wherever my husband and daughter are at is where I call home. Is that cheesy? That’s cheesy. It’s kind of cute though, right? 😉

What is one thing you love about Reformation culture?

“I love that it is so family friendly here I can bring my daughter and she can play in the yard and I can enjoy a craft beer. It’s a place of community. There are always good conversations. I feel like any time you walk into our taproom you are gonna know somebody and somebody is going to remember your name.“

Interesting fact about you?

I have the Reformation Rose tattooed on me (Laugh).

What did you get your degree in?

I went to school for Interior Design and Psychology and I think that helps with my creativity and people skills and planning really cool events that people will enjoy here at Reformation.

We were honored to win “Best Brewery” In Woodstock and Canton for Around Woodstock and Around Canton’s READERS’ CHOICE 2023 awards! 🥳🎈 🎉 🍻

All credit goes to our fabulous hardworking crew and you our loyal raving fans. We could not have come this far or kept going strong without all of the love and good vibes from our hometown community.

And, we could not think of a better way to celebrate the lead-up to Fall and the eve of our 10th anniversary this October 31st (along with our Cadence Fair 10/14).

Thank you, Woodstock, Canton, and all of our Cherokee County friends!

Cheers to many more moments together. 🍻 🥂

Meet the Crew: Discover the Faces and Stories behind Who We Are and What We Do.

“I love our production team right now. We have a very solid crew. Everyone knows what they’re doing. Nobody has to be asked what to do twice. We all make fun of each other but everyone knows what to do and when to do it. We’re pretty happy with production.” — Paul Hamill

STORY

Our Reformation Crew is the backbone of who we are and what we do. They are often the unknown faces and stories behind the well-known places and products you love. You can’t taste our drinks or enjoy our spaces without interacting with one of our incredible crew members.

This is why we are launching a brand new series starting this May highlighting our crew and featuring their stories called, “Meet the Crew.” Each month, we will feature 1 crew member in a blog post and a fun video on social media to share their unique roles and personalities.

FEATURING: Paul Hamill, Lead Brewer/Head Distiller

For our next crew member, we want to introduce you to Paul Hamill, our Lead Brewer/Head Distiller responsible for the overall production of our Craft Spirits line of products. You have probably seen Paul in Woodstock or most likely Canton – our production headquarters – distilling vodka or gin, telling cheesy dad jokes, embellishing his Irish charm, picking on his fellow production crew mates, or kicking back one of his favorite Reformation libations (a Reformation IPA or our new London Dry Gin).

When Paul’s not raising spirits he can be found making homemade guitars, enjoying the outdoors with his wife, or cooking up something delicious in a backyard bbq.

Get to know Paul and what makes him who he is in the conversation below.

And, watch the FULL VIDEO on our YouTube channel. Share it from our Instagram page.

GET TO KNOW PAUL HAMILL – Fun Q&A

Do you have a fun nickname at work?

No, not really.

How would you change your title?

The director of all the things nobody else wants to do. Messy and uncomfortable, I’ll do any of those. I’ll do anything that is necessary.

Where are you from and where do you call home?

Eastern Tennessee, the deep South (haha)! I am originally from Belfast, Ireland. But, I have now lived in the States since 1997. I have been in Atlanta all that time. In the last year, I have lived up near Canton. It feels like home up there and we are enjoying it.

What is your favorite Reformation beer and the most underrated?

My favorite of all time or go-to used to be Atlas – our original IPA, a rye IPA. I really loved that. We stopped making that for a couple of reasons. My go-to now is our Reformation IPA. It’s a good solid IPA. I also drink our Lagers – we have nice New Zealand Lagers. I like our Cold One.

What are some hidden talents or special interests?

During the Covid lockdown, I taught myself how to make solid-body electric guitars. I made a couple of those from blocks of wood, a neckpiece, and a fingerboard. I can shave and put together an electric guitar.

Is a hotdog a sandwich?

Yes, an unpleasant sandwich but a sandwich. I would top it with everything on it: tomato, mustard, sauerkraut, relish, the whole thing to hide the taste of animal parts.

Who makes you laugh the most at work?

That’s a good question. Who makes me laugh the most or who do I laugh at the most? Everyone is funny at the brewery. We try and have a good time. Currently, I pick on Kyle. I won’t say what I say to him because it gets unpleasant (laugh). He’s fine with all this picking unless he has a heavy flow day and then I back off a bit (laugh).

Favorite place to enjoy a great drink with friends?

Reformation, especially in Canton.

What is one thing you love about Reformation culture?

You can come up to Reformation anytime, any day and there will always be somebody there to talk to whether it’s a friend, a local, or a regular. Everyone is so happy and welcoming here.

Famous person dead or alive you would spend the day with?

I would say, Ed Sheeran. I watched his show on Disney+. He seems like a really nice guy. He was in Atlanta recently and mistakenly went to SweetWater Brewery (haha) had a couple of pints, went behind the bar, served some beers, and played a couple of songs, he seems a really nice guy and has his own guitar company in Northern Ireland.

Paul in the brewhouse of our Woodstock taproom.

Want to join our incredible crew and get in on the excitement? Send in your resume at the link below to apply: https://reformationbrewery.com/careers/

Subscribe to our blog and follow us on social media to stay connected to everything Reformation and this exciting series.

Raise your spirits because we are about to spill the beans on our newest product from our Reformation Craft Spirits line.

From the aroma of their roastery and cafe to the warm hospitality and smiling faces of their team, Alma Coffee continues to be a valuable partner and an asset to our local community. When we had the opportunity to collaborate again with our friends on another unique product, we knew it would be a great story and delicious product.

Recently, our leadership team was honored to visit their Cherokee-based headquarters conveniently located off of Holly Springs Parkway in Canton for a tour, story updates, and a special tasting of our brand new Coffee Liqueur. In Spanish, “alma” translates to soul and makes up the spirit of this recipe and the soul behind the story of good drinks and great friendships.

*The Coffee Liqueuer releases this Friday, June 2, 2023, and can be purchased online for brewery pickup in our Woodstock and Canton taprooms.*

With a dark, rich coffee profile supported by cacao and vanilla, this Reformation offering features Alma Coffee’s extra dark roast – Ember– containing subtle notes of double chocolate cake, berry compote, and burnt marshmallow. North Georgia Made and naturally gluten free, our third-ever liqueur, behind our Black Currant Liqueur and Orange Liqueur, goes down bold and smooth and pairs nicely in a cocktail with our Reformation London Dry Gin.

Pair it with that after-dinner dessert gathered with friends after a long, hard day or that lunchtime break with your coworker when you need that smooth pick-me-up. This liqueur is great as an espresso martini paired with your favorite vodka or gin with espresso and simple syrup garnished with cream and coffee beans. The perfect uniter of your favorite morning and evening drinks, this liqueur marries the best of AM and PM: coffee and spirits with a vodka base. Now you can start your days and end your nights with coffee in style.

It’s said that coffee tastes better with friends, so Coffee Liqueur must taste even better (we may have just made that up, but it feels true). Whether you grab a bottle for yourself or as a gift for that next get together, get ready to enjoy the bold smooth flavors of this delicious drink. Gather around, celebrate the moments, and raise a glass (and your spirits) together. There is a story in every cup.

“The Alma team has been honored to partner with Reformation Brewery and their amazing team since the very beginning. What began as one roast has evolved into seasonal releases, lifetime friendships, and now this coffee liqueur. When you think of North Georgia, you think of small business, community, and…Reformation Brewery! Reformation’s uncanny support of other small businesses is why it has become such a staple in Georgia.

We are proud to see this next chapter of our partnership and can vouge in saying how absolutely delicious it is. Our team got to enjoy the coffee liqueur straight, no ice, nothing added and it BLEW US AWAY! We can’t wait for everyone else to try it!”

Leticia Hutchins, Owner & Founder, Alma Coffee