chazwicke
04-22-2005, 11:52 AM
This from DC Beer:
Two N.M. Monasteries Asking State To Let Them Make Beer
By Dave Kavanaugh, Abq. Journal Northern Bureau
PECOS. It used to be, at least in Europe, you had to get thee to a
monastery to find a beer.
Now, two New Mexico monasteries want to bring Europe's longstanding
tradition here by opening a brewery on the grounds of the Pecos Benedictine
Monastery east of Santa Fe.
The Abbey Beverage Company LLC is seeking approval of a state liquor
license for the brewery.
Brad Kraus, of Santa Fe, who described himself as the "master brewer"
for the project, said monks in Europe have been brewing beer for centuries.
Brother William of Abiquiu's Monastery of Christ in the Desert confirmed
Kraus' retelling of history.
"At one point in medieval Europe," he said, "there were no other
breweries but monastic breweries."
Brother William said monks brewed beer for everyday use, for holidays
and for visitors. He said he thought the planned brewery-on-the-monastery at
Pecos may be a first in the western hemisphere.
The planned Pecos brewery is a joint venture of the Pecos and Abiquiu
monasteries.
Local approval of the brewerya legal requirement for operationis one
hurdle already cleared, as the San Miguel County Commission on Tuesday voted
5-0 to give its blessing to a small-brewer category license.
The next step for Abbey Beverage is formal approval by the state Alcohol
and Gaming Division.
Preliminary approval by that agency already has been secured, according
to documentation presented by San Miguel County planning and zoning
supervisor Alex Tafoya.
A waiver will be required because the proposed brewery will be located
within 300 feet of a church or school. Specifically, it will be on or
adjacent to the premises of the monastery itself, at 143 Cowles Highway just
north of Pecos.
Tafoya informed commissioners that the applicants specified that there
would be no on-site alcohol sales or consumption of the beer.
The brewery is expected to be on monastery property north of the
monastery itself, but an exact location has not been selected.
Tradition is one reason for the proposed beer-makingeconomics is
another.
Brother William, who was present for last week's County Commission
meeting, said the brewery would increase the financial independence of the
monastery, which relies on donations and outside support for sustenance.
It also will provide jobs to help boost the local economy, he said.
"We cannot count on the donations," he said. "God helps those who help
themselves."
The Roman Catholic religious brother said one source of inspiration for
the brewery concept is the quality of water in the Pecos River, which flows
near the Pecos monastery.
Before voting, the commission held a public hearing on the licensing
issue, and aside from the project's two representatives, no one spoke either
for or against it.
Commissioner Kenneth Medina asked whether the brewery's organizers had
brought samples of the product to the meeting, eliciting chuckles from the
audience.
"We've got to get the license first," Kraus answered, drawing a few
laughs himself.
One other issue the planned brewery may face involves the monastery's
tax-exempt status.
Property tax assessments typically include exemptions either in part or
in full if a property is used for religious or educational purposes. But if
a portion of a property is deemed to be serving other purposes, including
commercial gain, its tax-exempt status could be altered.
County Attorney Jesus Lopez said that would be a matter for the
monastery and brewery to work out with the county assessor.
Abbey Beverage has a corporate address in Santa Feat 235 Don Gaspar,
address of a shop called The Monks' Corner. The shop, run by the Christ in
the Desert Monastery, sells a variety of items produced by monks, but no
beer.
Brother William said the brewery is applying for a wholesale license
that would allow sales to restaurants and retail outlets. Commercial
investors will be approached within a couple of years, he noted. How big the
operation will be, he said, will depend on the market response.
"We're being flexible," he said.
Two N.M. Monasteries Asking State To Let Them Make Beer
By Dave Kavanaugh, Abq. Journal Northern Bureau
PECOS. It used to be, at least in Europe, you had to get thee to a
monastery to find a beer.
Now, two New Mexico monasteries want to bring Europe's longstanding
tradition here by opening a brewery on the grounds of the Pecos Benedictine
Monastery east of Santa Fe.
The Abbey Beverage Company LLC is seeking approval of a state liquor
license for the brewery.
Brad Kraus, of Santa Fe, who described himself as the "master brewer"
for the project, said monks in Europe have been brewing beer for centuries.
Brother William of Abiquiu's Monastery of Christ in the Desert confirmed
Kraus' retelling of history.
"At one point in medieval Europe," he said, "there were no other
breweries but monastic breweries."
Brother William said monks brewed beer for everyday use, for holidays
and for visitors. He said he thought the planned brewery-on-the-monastery at
Pecos may be a first in the western hemisphere.
The planned Pecos brewery is a joint venture of the Pecos and Abiquiu
monasteries.
Local approval of the brewerya legal requirement for operationis one
hurdle already cleared, as the San Miguel County Commission on Tuesday voted
5-0 to give its blessing to a small-brewer category license.
The next step for Abbey Beverage is formal approval by the state Alcohol
and Gaming Division.
Preliminary approval by that agency already has been secured, according
to documentation presented by San Miguel County planning and zoning
supervisor Alex Tafoya.
A waiver will be required because the proposed brewery will be located
within 300 feet of a church or school. Specifically, it will be on or
adjacent to the premises of the monastery itself, at 143 Cowles Highway just
north of Pecos.
Tafoya informed commissioners that the applicants specified that there
would be no on-site alcohol sales or consumption of the beer.
The brewery is expected to be on monastery property north of the
monastery itself, but an exact location has not been selected.
Tradition is one reason for the proposed beer-makingeconomics is
another.
Brother William, who was present for last week's County Commission
meeting, said the brewery would increase the financial independence of the
monastery, which relies on donations and outside support for sustenance.
It also will provide jobs to help boost the local economy, he said.
"We cannot count on the donations," he said. "God helps those who help
themselves."
The Roman Catholic religious brother said one source of inspiration for
the brewery concept is the quality of water in the Pecos River, which flows
near the Pecos monastery.
Before voting, the commission held a public hearing on the licensing
issue, and aside from the project's two representatives, no one spoke either
for or against it.
Commissioner Kenneth Medina asked whether the brewery's organizers had
brought samples of the product to the meeting, eliciting chuckles from the
audience.
"We've got to get the license first," Kraus answered, drawing a few
laughs himself.
One other issue the planned brewery may face involves the monastery's
tax-exempt status.
Property tax assessments typically include exemptions either in part or
in full if a property is used for religious or educational purposes. But if
a portion of a property is deemed to be serving other purposes, including
commercial gain, its tax-exempt status could be altered.
County Attorney Jesus Lopez said that would be a matter for the
monastery and brewery to work out with the county assessor.
Abbey Beverage has a corporate address in Santa Feat 235 Don Gaspar,
address of a shop called The Monks' Corner. The shop, run by the Christ in
the Desert Monastery, sells a variety of items produced by monks, but no
beer.
Brother William said the brewery is applying for a wholesale license
that would allow sales to restaurants and retail outlets. Commercial
investors will be approached within a couple of years, he noted. How big the
operation will be, he said, will depend on the market response.
"We're being flexible," he said.