America's Newest Monastic Brewery Opens in Oregon

Discussion in 'Article Comments' started by BeerAdvocate, Sep 10, 2018.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Why?
     
    FBarber likes this.
  2. Lingenbrau

    Lingenbrau Grand Pooh-Bah (4,853) Apr 9, 2011 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Great article once again @Keene . After cancelling plans, guess I'm gonna have to re-plan on going to Mount Angel Oktoberfest this weekend.

    I hope.
     
    Keene, FBarber and drtth like this.
  3. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    And hopefully report back here and in NBS?
     
    JackHorzempa, Lingenbrau and FBarber like this.
  4. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    A couple thoughts. First off, Most of the Trappist breweries didn't open until the 19th century with 5 opening in the last 20 years (only one in the US). There are other breweries (brands) that were tied with various monasteries, (that are not Trappist) that have been around a long time, but that are no longer actually tied with the monastery. So some of the original ones aren't even tied to a monastery anymore. The ones that are tied to a monastery are really the most "traditional" regardless of when they opened.

    As for the gimmick comment. The breweries that are actually part of the monastery and used to raise funds to self sustain the monastery are far from a gimmick. Sure they're brewing beer and beer is popular, but they're doing it not as a gimmick to make money but as a way to sustain their monastery - no different than selling cheese, preserves, coffins, religious art, etc.
     
  5. Squire

    Squire Grand Pooh-Bah (4,385) Jul 16, 2015 Mississippi
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was going to post along these lines but you said it so well I won't. I agree and would only add the profits from beer sales go to the Monastery and not into the Monk's pockets. That's not something other craft brewers can say.
     
  6. Lingenbrau

    Lingenbrau Grand Pooh-Bah (4,853) Apr 9, 2011 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    If it's not too late to convince the better half (again), absofrigginlutely!
     
    FBarber likes this.
  7. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Well, you can always explain that they have facilities where folks can go to spend a quiet few days away from the demands and cares of the world and it might be worth checking those out (and visit the gift shop).

    Edit: You might need to double check, but I think meals are included in the price of the room. (If she's like my wife that will be attractive. :wink: )
     
    #27 drtth, Sep 11, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2018
    Lingenbrau likes this.
  8. Lingenbrau

    Lingenbrau Grand Pooh-Bah (4,853) Apr 9, 2011 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    I think that's a good plan. Monks are good day care providers too, right?
     
    sharpski likes this.
  9. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Don't know about day care, but check out my edit above.... Not having to cook allows much more time to spend with children, etc. :wink:
     
    Lingenbrau likes this.
  10. JohnnyChicago

    JohnnyChicago Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2010 Illinois

    O
    This is an important point that I forgot to bring up. There are a decent amount of non-monks brewing these beers

    But, the lay brewers who help in production, aren’t exactly your everyday brewery joe shmo hipster brewers. The doc showed them eating meals and attending mass with the monks. They are dudes who clearly have ideologies that line up with the monks, even if they don’t take the vows.

    If anyone has any interest in these beers/breweries, I would strongly recommend the book ‘Brew Like a Monk’. I know @EvenMoreJesus is familiar with it. Great book, even if you aren’t a brewer. Stan can really paint a picture...
     
  11. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Good info

    Thanks for spelling it out like that.

    Still having a time wrapping my head around the Trappist piece. You brew beer. If it’s good it will sell. Never had Spencer and at the price it sells for I probably won’t. Would people pay the premium price for Spencer if it was just a beer made by Sierra Nevada or sone local and not touted as Trappist?

    Either way I’m ok. The beer sounds good and having more good beer is never a bad thing.

    Enjoy
     
    FBarber likes this.
  12. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yea, I've had Spencer, but its not a beer I buy very often. That being said, I love some of the imported Trappists and I buy those for special treats.
     
  13. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    Because.
     
  14. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Thanks!

    No need to add anything more, someone else already provided a useful answer.
     
    FBarber likes this.
  15. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    Ask a stupid question . . .
     
  16. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well, except for the ones with corporate or private-equity ownership, where the profits go "up" and by-pass the actual brewers' and other brewery workers' pockets...
     
  17. Squire

    Squire Grand Pooh-Bah (4,385) Jul 16, 2015 Mississippi
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The monks still don't get paid which was my point. Their work is it's own reward and their commitment to it genuine.
     
    BBThunderbolt likes this.
  18. Alefflicted

    Alefflicted Crusader (481) Dec 2, 2017 Minnesota

    That's an excellent point, one with which I can not argue.

    I guess my point would be that some of the monastic breweries do take the spirituality aspect of creating an excellent product very seriously. And many take the tradition of brewing very seriously. Even if one or many of their brewers are not actual monks, the monastery itself still plays a vital role in every aspect of the operation. Does that play a factor in the quality of the beer? Honestly it may or may not, but considering some of the great monastic brews out there, I'd like to believe that it does.
     
  19. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Well, as a friend of my used to say, "If you ask a stupid question you look stupid for 5 minutes. If you don't ask, you stay stupid for the rest of your life."
     
    BBThunderbolt and FBarber like this.
  20. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    No argument here at all. Just pointing out that a layperson's "spiritual responsibility" might be slightly different than that of a monk's.
     
    ethanlordpft555 and Alefflicted like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.