Disir
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- Sep 30, 2011
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(I bet beer enhances monastic life.)
SPENCER, Mass. (CNS) -- The whoosh of the beer tap opening, the gentle glug of the golden brew pouring into the goblet and the sizzle of the foaming mousse are joyous sounds to Trappist Brother Jonah Pociadlo's ears as he prepares to savor the signature ale created in his monastery's brewery.
The monk -- swathed in his trademark black and white habit -- then holds the glass above his head, squints to examine the bubbling liquid inside, before drawing it to his nose to savor the aroma radiating from the tumbler, which is ornamented with the name of the brew, Spencer Trappist Ale.
"It's got a wonderful smell to it," said Brother Jonah, as his eyes gently close and his satisfied grin grows wider. "I hesitate to describe it, because it's something I think is pretty subjective. But I can almost taste it without it even touching my lips."
He then joins his fellow beer-brewing monks and lay workers to taste the ale at the Spencer Brewery, which officially began operations a little more than a year ago on the grounds of St. Joseph's Abbey in the tiny hamlet of Spencer, home to 57 monks who are Cistercians of the Strict Observance, more commonly known as Trappists.
Though Trappist Monastery brew houses have existed in Europe for at least 300 years, this community of monks opened the first Trappist brewery in the United States.
When the idea for the first American Trappist brew house was pitched to the International Trappist Association, a few of its members were dubious, Trappist Father Isaac Keeley, director of the Spencer Brewery, told Catholic News Service during a spring tour of the new state-of-the-art facility.
"They're very protective of the Trappist beer brand and they always want to ensure that a brew with that label meets the high standards they've set for it," Father Keeley said.
The association requires all beer with the Trappist name to be brewed at a Cistercian monastery, either by monks or laypeople supervised by monks.
Catholic News US Trappist monks say beer brewing enhances monastic life American Catholic
I'd try it. Has anyone else tried it?
SPENCER, Mass. (CNS) -- The whoosh of the beer tap opening, the gentle glug of the golden brew pouring into the goblet and the sizzle of the foaming mousse are joyous sounds to Trappist Brother Jonah Pociadlo's ears as he prepares to savor the signature ale created in his monastery's brewery.
The monk -- swathed in his trademark black and white habit -- then holds the glass above his head, squints to examine the bubbling liquid inside, before drawing it to his nose to savor the aroma radiating from the tumbler, which is ornamented with the name of the brew, Spencer Trappist Ale.
"It's got a wonderful smell to it," said Brother Jonah, as his eyes gently close and his satisfied grin grows wider. "I hesitate to describe it, because it's something I think is pretty subjective. But I can almost taste it without it even touching my lips."
He then joins his fellow beer-brewing monks and lay workers to taste the ale at the Spencer Brewery, which officially began operations a little more than a year ago on the grounds of St. Joseph's Abbey in the tiny hamlet of Spencer, home to 57 monks who are Cistercians of the Strict Observance, more commonly known as Trappists.
Though Trappist Monastery brew houses have existed in Europe for at least 300 years, this community of monks opened the first Trappist brewery in the United States.
When the idea for the first American Trappist brew house was pitched to the International Trappist Association, a few of its members were dubious, Trappist Father Isaac Keeley, director of the Spencer Brewery, told Catholic News Service during a spring tour of the new state-of-the-art facility.
"They're very protective of the Trappist beer brand and they always want to ensure that a brew with that label meets the high standards they've set for it," Father Keeley said.
The association requires all beer with the Trappist name to be brewed at a Cistercian monastery, either by monks or laypeople supervised by monks.
Catholic News US Trappist monks say beer brewing enhances monastic life American Catholic
I'd try it. Has anyone else tried it?