Faith on Tap” is a short series on the divine connections I see between monastic life and the art of brewing beer. (Check out Part 1 and Part 2 here.) This blog series is meant to be a red-carpet inauguration of the First Annual Strategic Monk Brewery Pilgrimage. Our tour began on May 1st with Eagle Rock Brewery in Los Angeles and continues on June 4th at LadyFace Ale Companie in Agoura Hills. RSVP here to join us!
There is a long and storied history shared between monastics and brewing beer.
For example, the first Lenten beer was brewed by Paulaner monks at Cloister Neudeck ob der Au in Munich. They arrived in Munich from Italy in 1627, and began brewing beer for their own consumption shortly thereafter. The Paulaners were concerned, however, that such a strong brew with such delightful qualities might be too much of an indulgence for Lent.
So they decided to ask the Holy Father in Rome for a special dispensation to ensure that they could continue to brew, and drink it with a clear conscience. They dispatched a cask of Lenten beer to Rome for the Pope to try it for himself.
It may have been that the monks’ cask was tossed and turned on the journey across the Alps and heated for several weeks in the Italian sun, so that the beer turned sour and undrinkable. It may also have been that the Pope and the Cardinals in Rome were more accustomed to the subtle taste of wine than the robust favors of strong beer. Whatever the reason, when the Holy Father tasted the much-praised stuff from Munich, he found it unpalatable.
The Pope decided that because the brew tasted so vile, it was probably beneficial for the souls of the Munich monks to make and drink as much of it as they could. It was a testament to the piety of the monks that they were willing to drink it during Lent. The Pope, with great admiration, gave the brewing of this new Lenten beer style his blessing.
There are many connections between monastic life, leadership, and brewing beer. Each requires patience, and each depends on the way good things bubble up over time. Each is difficult to appreciate alone, and is best when shared. None can be rushed, and are depend on the particular rhythms of specific situations. Each can be an acquired taste.
[ Beer image by mccun934; Pope image by Archer10 ]
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