Reunion is a modern take on a historic lager. This look back in time is made possible by forward thinking in craft malt. To make it happen, we use an innovative malt that provides an integrated smoke flavor. Imagine a glass of cold brew coffee with defined, subtle notes versus a hot cup of intense French Roast.
Smoked malt from Central Europe is made, more or less, the same way today as it’s been made for a long, long time. Barley is exposed to burning wood or peat. This both kilns the barley with direct heat and hot smokes it. It creates an intense, smoke-forward, and sometimes acrid impression. Smoked malt (and smoked beer) was a byproduct of the kilning technology at the time, not necessarily the goal, but people developed a taste for it.

Advances in craft malting are once again moving beer forward, this time through inspiration from that smoke flavor we got a taste for so long ago. Cold-smoking malt is an innovative way our friends Epiphany Craft Malt developed to offer tempered and defined smoke flavor, avoiding potential harsh qualities or overdoing it. The barley is placed into a drum with smoldering wood that engulfs it with room temperature or “cold” smoke from the embers. This lends a gentle and clear smoke expression to the malt and eventually beer.

Reunion carries these cold-smoked characteristics to offer you full flavor with restraint. To us, it’s a balance of layered smoke depth and drinkability.