Abbey Brewing Co

People Behind Abbey Brewing – The leadership of the Benedictine Monastery of Christ in the Desert honors St. Benedict’s precepts for a monastic life and the importance of hospitality and self-sufficiency. Since the inception of Abbey Brewing Company, they have supported the development and brewing of hand-crafted ales for lovers of beer. At Abbey Brewing, we work hard to develop our award-winning ales in the tradition of the great European monasteries as the monastic community follows the goal of a contemplative life in the wilderness of Chama Canyon in Northern New Mexico.

A Brief History Of Monastic Brewing – Honoring St. Benedict’s precepts for monastic life and the importance of hospitality and self-sufficiency, the monks of the Benedictine Monastery of Christ in the Desert brew hand-crafted ales for lovers of beer. We work hard to craft our award-winning ales in the tradition of the great European monasteries as we follow our goal of the contemplative life in the wilderness of Chama Canyon in Northern New Mexico.

Around 530 A.D., Benedict and his disciples established a mountain community at Monte Cassino where he lived until his death. It was here that Benedict composed his rules for monks which we now know as “The Rule of St. Benedict.” In these rules, Benedict established precepts for monastic life, which included:
The dignity of work
The importance of self-sufficiency (as a monastery)
The practice of hospitality

In chapter 53:1 in “The Rule of St. Benedict,” monks are encouraged to seriously practice hospitality: “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.”  At minimum, Benedictine hospitality guaranteed each guest safety, a place to rest, and sleep, and sustenance. Since the water in sixth-century Europe was not often safe to drink, sustenance was commonly offered in the form of “liquid bread”—beer, that is.