....nor drunkards, ....shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:10
"For nearly 60 years, the brothers of St. Joseph's Abbey have led a simple life devoted to prayer and preserves, producing a successful line of condiments, such as damson plum jam and port wine jelly, out of their monastery in Spencer, Mass.
But beginning this week, that business will be joined by a new enterprise, one that shares a legacy with the monks' European brothers. Raise a glass to Spencer Trappist Ale, the first certified Trappist beer made by monks in the United States.
"The conversation about brewing a Trappist ale actually began five years ago," a spokesperson for the brewery told ABC News. "There was a brother who had brewed beer in college who was interested in it, and he prompted the discussion."
After some internal debate, the monks decided to pursue the idea, naming Father Isaac Keeley as brewery director. Keeley and another brother then traveled to Europe to sample various beers and gain insight into the production process from their fellow Catholic Cistercian monks, popularly known as Trappists.
There are just eight other Trappist breweries in the world: six in Belgium, one in Holland and another in
Austria. In accordance with the International Trappist Association, all beers bearing their label must be brewed within the confines of a monastery, produced in keeping with the practices of a monastic life, and sold for the sole purpose of supporting the maintenance of the monastery.
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| From the "Really" File |
While overseas, the brothers of St. Joseph's Abbey were advised to build a state-of-the-art brewery, to hire a skilled brew engineer and to focus on a single beer for the first five years in order to ensure quality of product.
Salois said that the response to the beer has been overwhelming, with a considerable number of pre-orders from groceries, bar and restaurant establishments even before many had gotten a taste. The beer is currently only available in Massachusetts, and only in bottles. Kegs will roll out to taverns in mid-February.
"The history and the tradition of being a Trappist beer is pretty special," he said. "If you're a big beer drinker, then you're welcoming this with open arms." ABC
REALLY?
