MONKS IN NEW MEXICO BUILD SMALL BREWERY
Monks at Monastery of Christ in the Desert in New Mexico have begun
construction of a building that will house a small brewery. The monks
currently have Monks’ Ale and Monks’ Wit made under contract at Sierra Blanca
Brewing. Sierra Blanca will continue to make those beers for wider
distribution. Although Brad Kraus, who also brews at Blue Corn Cafe & Brewery
in Santa Fe, will oversee brewing - both pilot batches and small runs for
draft distribution - several monks will work in the brewery. The monks are
also experimenting with growing hops on the property, starting with native
New Mexican varieties. Details: http://bit.ly/crZT69
I’ve enjoyed the Monks Ale for a while. It kind of reminds me a lot of Leffe Blonde. I’ve never had the Wit but I’ll look for it next time I go to Roswell.
Interesting find Denny. Thanks.
I can see it now… American Abbey Ale …BJCP category 29 ;D
I find the sign in the farm field amusing: “Private Road – Monks Only.”
Neomexicania hops–had no idea they existed. Wonder what characteristics they have?
Taste like cilantro?
The hops are especially interesting considering the day-length requirements for hops to yield a good crop. I’d love to try some of their beers some time.
Corky grows his own, too (IIRC).
Maybe he can hook a brotha up.
Maybe next year I’ll get enough for a couple of batches. Between drought and a plague of grashoppers I got nothing the past 2 years.
I sure do love me a good monk.
Here’s another article about the New Mexico native hops
http://newscenter.nmsu.edu/news/article/7420/
Excellent article, thanks for posting that. Now I have to find me some native hops. My experience is that Cascade grows best down here, Nuggets do OK and pretty much everything else I’ve tried has failed.
Very cool, thanks Jeff.
Enjoyed that. Though Hallertau hops are grown in the Hallertau region of Bavaria, and not the Czeck Rep, which is famous for Saaz. Anyone seen Czeck Hallertau?
No, I haven’t. Then again, hops were added to beer long before IPAs were being shipped to India. 
That was one that I left unsaid. Martyn Cornell would have a field day with that one.
It will be interesting to see if the hardy drought resistant wild variety does well as a commercial strain. Unrelated to European hops. That’s cool.
Thanks for the link DC. I’ll have to keep an eye out for their beer. There’s actually a pretty big craft beer scene up in the northern part of the state. I’m in the southern part and there’s few and far between but, it’s starting to gain momentum. There’s one brewpub in town…High Desert and they put out some tasty stuff. A few within 1 to two hours from Las Cruces that are real decent. Maybe they need a new startup regional brewery down here…Coyote Tooth perhaps? 