Abbey Brewing Company facts for kids
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Monastery of Christ in the Desert
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| Type | Craft beers in the monastic tradition of Europe and contemporary American | ||||||||||||||||
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| Location | Abiquiú, New Mexico, US | ||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 36°22′40.80″N 106°40′49.80″W / 36.3780000°N 106.6805000°W | ||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 2005 | ||||||||||||||||
| Annual production volume | 2,900 US beer barrels (3,400 hL) | ||||||||||||||||
| Distribution | New Mexico, Missouri, Chile, and Taiwan | ||||||||||||||||
| Tasting | Bode' General Store - 21196 US-84, Abiquiu, NM 87510, USA Monks' Corner Taproom - 205 Silver Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM | ||||||||||||||||
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The Abbey Brewing Company is a special company that makes craft beverages. It is located in the beautiful Chama River Wilderness Area near Abiquiú, New Mexico. This company was started in 2003 by two Benedictine monasteries: Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. It is the first monastery-based beverage company in America since a long time ago. Their motto is "Made with care and prayer." The monks believe their work helps them "bring everything to perfection for the glory of God." This idea comes from the Rule of Saint Benedict, which guides their way of life.
Contents
History of the Brewery
The Abbey Brewing Company first started making beverages in late 2005. They focused on styles similar to those made in European monasteries. By 2010, the Monastery of Christ in the Desert took full ownership. Later, in 2013, the monastery partnered with two private investors.
Also in 2010, they harvested their first native hops. These special hops are grown right at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. They are used to make unique "Reserve Series" beverages. In 2016, the company opened a tasting room called Monks' Corner Tap Room in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their products also started being sold in other countries, like Taiwan in 2016 and Chile in 2017.
How They Operate
At first, the beverage making happened at Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery. In 2012, the operations moved to the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. A new building just for making beverages was finished there in 2012.
At the monastery, they focus on creating new types of beverages. They make small batches there, using a half-barrel system. This location is hard for big trucks to reach. So, larger amounts are made at another location in Moriarty, New Mexico. This bigger facility uses a 20-barrel system. Both bottled and draft products are packaged at the Moriarty location.
Making the Beverages
The main facility is at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. It is licensed by the US government. This monastery brewery has a half-barrel system. It is used to create all new beverage recipes. It also makes small batches for testing. The Abbey Brewing Company owns all the equipment at the monastery.
The monastery brewery can be expanded to make even more. It is also very eco-friendly. It runs "off the grid," meaning it uses solar panels and propane for power. They also recycle water. The leftover grains from the process are used as compost for their hop yard. This brewery is in a private area for the monks. So, it is not open for public visits.
A larger production facility is in Moriarty, New Mexico. Here, the Abbey Brewing Company controls the entire process. They choose all the ingredients and how everything is packaged. At Moriarty, some of the main equipment belongs to the Abbey Brewing Company. This facility has a 20-barrel system. It can produce 2,900 barrels of beverages each year.
In 2010, they planted special New Mexican hops. These hops grow on a quarter-acre plot at the monastery. The first harvest happened in September of that year. The hop yard was made even bigger the next year. Every fall, usually in September, the monks and their guests pick and process the hops by hand. Beverages called "Monks' Ales Reserve" are made with these monastery hops. Sometimes, these special hops are sold online to people who like to make their own beverages at home.
The Team Behind the Brews
The general manager and assistant brewer of Abbey Brewing Company is Berkeley Merchant. He studied chemistry and business. Mr. Merchant is also a lay monk, meaning he follows the Benedictine way of life. His monastic name is Brother Barnabas.
The head brewer is Brad Krauss, who is from New Mexico. He has a chemistry degree. Brad has worked in the craft beverage industry for twenty years. He helped start several other companies. He is also a master judge in international competitions. He has won over 130 medals for his work. He helped the Abbey Brewing Company create their unique recipes.
Types of Beverages
The Abbey Brewing Company makes several kinds of beverages:
- Monks' Ale: This was first made in 2006. It is a medium-bodied beverage with an amber color.
- Monks' Wit: This is a type of wheat beverage, first made in 2010.
- Monks' Tripel: This is a gold-colored, light to medium-bodied beverage. It was first made in 2012.
- Monks' Dubbel: This is a medium-bodied beverage. It was first made in 2013.
Awards and Recognition
The Abbey Brewing Company does not enter many competitions. However, when they do, they often win!
In 2014, they won four medals at the New Mexico State Fair Beer Pro-Am competition. They earned one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. Their special Monks' Tripel Reserve won the gold medal.
Also in 2014, Abbey Brewing Company won a silver medal at the Denver International Beer Competition.
In 2017, they won a gold medal for Monks' Ale at a competition in Santiago, Chile. They also won a gold medal for Monks' Ale as "Best of Class" in the Trappist Style Ales category. Their Monks' Dubbel won a bronze medal that same year.
Images for kids
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Monastery of Christ in the Desert
