USA, OR: Mount Angel Abbey’s monks to open Benedictine Brewery by summer 2016

Monastic affinity for alcohol might come as a surprise to those unfamiliar with the cloistered Catholics, but Christian monks have been brewing beer for more than 1,000 years, OregonLive.com reported on July 30.

“Monks in the medieval era brewed beer to keep their communities hydrated,” said Father Martin Grassel, who oversees Mount Angel Abbey's brewing venture. “In those days, clean water was hard to come by,” Grassel added.

Though the Benedictine monks at Mount Angel aren't thirsty for safe liquid, they do need ways to financially support their hilltop community.

Grassel, a former software engineer featured in a narrative by reporter Melissa Binder, didn't become interested in beer until after entering the monastery. Grassel microbrews in his free time, but has been actively working on establishing a sustainable brewing business.

With a little help, Grassel has developed recipes, finalized the branding and set up a limited liability company. All that's keeping Benedictine Brewery at bay are building codes.

The monks hoped to set up shop in an existing building at the abbey, but learned that retrofitting a structure would cost more than constructing a new one. They've been through eight iterations of building plans, Grassel said, but haven't quite settled on a feasible location and blueprint.

He thinks the Benedictine Brewery will be up and running by summer 2016.

31 July, 2015