St. Benedict envisioned monasteries as self-sufficient communities. In consequence, the Benedictines of the Middle Ages brewed in their own facilities, with their own labor, using ingredients grown on their own farms.
In the complex world of the twenty-first century, the monks of Mount Angel strive for the same: the monks do the brewing; the water comes from their own well; and the hops come from their own land, where they have grown since the 1880’s.
Fr. Martin Grassel, O.S.B., general manager and head brewer at Benedictine Brewery, had an interview on Catholic Faith Network’s morning show, CFN Live. He talked about the monastic tradition of brewing beer since the early Middle Ages. The beer brewed now at Mount Angel follows the early monastic tradition and is “crafted for a higher purpose.” It’s likely the only beer in the US that receives a priestly blessing at every stage, from raising the hops to pulling the tap. Mount Angel Abbey’s Benedictine Brewery and Taproom is one of a very few monastic breweries currently operating in the United States. Watch the full interview here.