St. Benedict’s Brew Works to open its doors (and taps) Saturday, October 10

While St. Benedict Brew Works will initially sell its small batch craft beers in reusable growlers, by Christmas the beer will be sold in 16 oz. bottles and other specialty bottles. ??Photo by Kathy Tretter — While St. Benedict Brew Works will initially sell its small batch craft beers in reusable growlers, by Christmas, the beer will be sold in 16 oz. bottles and other specialty bottles. *Photo by Kathy Tretter*

After more than a year of planning, renovation and prayers, St. Benedict’s Brew Works has scheduled its brewery ribbon cutting and Oktoberfest celebration for Saturday, October 10, on the grounds of the Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand.

St. Benedict’s Brew Works, 860 E. 10th St. in the Sisters’ former art studio, is the only United States craft brewery located on the grounds of a women’s religious community.

Founded in 1867, the Sisters of St. Benedict community is one of the largest congregations of religious sisters in the nation.

“There are three communities of monks in the United States who operate breweries but we believe St. Benedict’s is the only beer-brewing operation in the U.S. attached to a women’s monastery,” said Vince Luecke, one of the brewery’s owners. “We know of a beer-brewing sister in Mallersdorf Abbey in Germany. Her brewery and ours may be the only two in the world.”

Luecke and co-owner Andy Hedinger grew up in Southern Indiana in the shadows of the Sisters of St. Benedict and nearby Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Luecke studied for a time for the priesthood under the monks at Saint Meinrad while Hedinger and his family operate Monkey Hollow Winery, a farm winery nearby.

The new brewery honors St. Benedict, a 6th-century saint. His guide for monks, known as the Rule of St. Benedict, became one of the most influential religious guides in history. For this reason, Benedict is often called the founder of Western monasticism.

The two entrepreneurs searched for a brewery location that would reflect the centuries-old tradition of monastic brewing. Many monasteries once brewed beer for monks, sisters and visitors alike. The beers varied in style, from simple patersbier (fathers’ beer) ales that the monks drank with meals to small batch porters, dubbels, tripels, saisons, hefeweizens and lagers that were sold outside the monastery to help support the religious community and its works.

Saint Benedict’s Brew Works, in keeping with the Old World tradition, is partnering with the Sisters of St. Benedict, who will share in the brewery’s revenues. The Sisters of St. Benedict currently number about 150 women and serve in areas of education, parish work, health care, retreat and spirituality work, social services, counseling and mission work.

The new brewery was licensed this summer and since then has been producing small hand-crafted batches of beer.

“It is an exciting time to be a craft brewery in Indiana and the U.S. It’s a movement all its own and we are proud to be a part of it,” said Hedinger. “We brew in small batches, and while we have a brew schedule, we also have a whimsical and experimental side that will be fully utilized. Brewing is an art and we plan on expressing ourselves in many different ways.”

The Oktoberfest celebration October 10 will include an 11:30 a.m. EDT blessing of the new brewery by the Sisters and other religious and community leaders. A ribbon cutting will follow. There will be live music, food and beer samples throughout the day. Those wanting to take St. Benedict’s Brew Works beer home with them can purchase growlers filled with the beer of their choice.

St. Benedict’s Brew Works is producing several styles of beer, from a creamy ale and rich wheat Hefeweizen to an old-fashioned German Kolsch, altbier and an extra special release in the spirit of Oktoberfest.

The brewery will begin bottling its beer later this year in time for the holidays. Initial brewery hours will be Friday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. For more information on St. Benedict’s Brew Works, its beer and upcoming events, visit www.saintbenedictsbrewworks.com. Information is also available on the Facebook page or by calling 812-719-2301.