Posted on 04/22/2005 6:17:30 PM PDT by CedarDave
PECOS— It used to be, at least in Europe, you had to get thee to a monastery to find a beer.
Now, two New Mexico monasteries want to bring Europe's longstanding tradition here by opening a brewery on the grounds of the Pecos Benedictine Monastery east of Santa Fe. The Abbey Beverage Company is seeking approval of a state liquor license for the brewery.
Brad Kraus, of Santa Fe, who described himself as the "master brewer" for the project, said monks in Europe have been brewing beer for centuries.
Brother William of Abiquiu's Monastery of Christ in the Desert confirmed Kraus' retelling of history. "At one point in medieval Europe," he said, "there were no other breweries but monastic breweries." Brother William said monks brewed beer for everyday use, for holidays and for visitors. He said he thought the planned brewery-on-the-monastery at Pecos may be a first in the western hemisphere.
The planned Pecos brewery is a joint venture of the Pecos and Abiquiu monasteries. Local approval of the brewery— a legal requirement for operation— is one hurdle already cleared, as the San Miguel County Commission on Tuesday voted 5-0 to give its blessing to a small-brewer category license.
The next step for Abbey Beverage is formal approval by the state Alcohol and Gaming Division. Preliminary approval by that agency already has been secured, according to documentation presented by San Miguel County planning and zoning supervisor Alex Tafoya. A waiver will be required because the proposed brewery will be located within 300 feet of a church or school. Specifically, it will be on or adjacent to the premises of the monastery itself, at 143 Cowles Highway just north of Pecos.
Tafoya informed commissioners that the applicants specified that there would be no on-site alcohol sales or consumption of the beer.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
For your ping list...
That's like the old joke how do you tell the difference between a Baptist and a Cathloic in a liquor store....
The Catholics say hi to each other....
(no offence to all concerned)
NeverGore :^)
I welcome any improvement in domestic beer at all, it just gets worse each year.
Anyone else remember 50 years ago when Your Grampa let You have a little sip out of His beer stein? That was BEER!
"Maudite" is a belgian lambic beer with a very rich malty body. It's almost a barley wine, but with a beautiful balance. Get it. Interesting. Christ in the Desert use to be a contemplative monestary and Pecos a wierd retreat house. Wonder if anything has changed?
I was shelving some books in my library today and came across this poem in the Norton Anthology of World Literature:
Sedulius Scottus (ninth century)
He Complains to Bishop Hartgar of Thirst
The standing corn is green, the wild in flower,
The vines are swelling, 'tis the sweet o' the year,
Bright-winged the birds, and heaven shrill with song,
And laughing sea and earth and every star.
But with it all, there's never a drink for me,
No wine, not mead, not even a drop of beer.
Ah, how hath failed that substance manifold,
Born of the kind earth and the dewy air!
I am a writer, I, a musician, Orpheus the second,
And the ox that treads the corn, and your well-wisher I,
I am your champion armed with the weapons of wisdom and logic,
Muse, tell my lord bishop and father his servant is dry.
I had a Belgian wheat beer once that was the most delicious beer I've ever had but darn if I can remember the name. I guess I'll just have to go the liquor store and try out a bunch of them until I find it again.
A tough job, but somebody's gotta do it!
Hefeweizen has not been microfiltered into oblivion.
I remember that My first taste of Lowenbrau dark was good enough that I could actually feel little solid particles in it. If someone makes a brew, and has to microfilter it, they did not take sufficient care with what they put into it. Basswood aging? Only because Basswood is cheap, and sounds impressive in the ads.
I reckon time has come for Me to shut up, Good Night!
BTW, whatever happened to Oranjeboom? Excuse My spelling, it has been a long time.
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