To Gladden the Heart: Brewing and the Monastic Tradition

Abstract

The main elements of the Benedictine Rule, "ora et labora" or prayer and work, combined with the emphasis on hospitality came together in the process of monastic brewing. The development of the brewing tradition within monastic communities allowed for the development of self-sustaining communities. Intellectual, spiritual and physical exercises interact to give monastic brewing its distinctive characteristics. The beer produced in these communities reflects a concern for quality, for local sourcing, and for "gladdening the heart." This is, indeed, the correct way to both make and consume beer.