St. Raphael Now Selling Beer Brewed By Monks

(News/Talk 1480 WHBC) – Looking for a good brew?

Something you probably haven’t had before.

Well, you might want to check out a local Catholic bookstore.

That’s right, St. Raphael Books & Gifts is now selling beer made by Trappist monasteries from around the world.

As they embark on this new venture, Director Barbara Gaskel wants people to know that it’s not about the beer, it’s about what’s behind the beer.

“It’s about the monks that brew it, it’s about men who give their lives to Christ and through that brew this to give us something to cheer our hearts.”

She says monks have been brewing the finest beer in the world for centuries and often drank it because it was cleaner than the water available.

Now, it has become a financial opportunity for them to sustain their monastery and ministry.

Gaskell says their new venture is called St. Raphael Boutique Beer and their motto is, “Where Faith Meets Spirits.”

The beers range from light wheat beers to dark stouts.

In addition to beer, she says they also sell Monk Sauce, which is a hot sauce made at the Subiaco Monastery in Subiaco, Arkansas and Mt. Carmel Tomato Sauce from The Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Youngstown.

And soon she says they’ll be introducing wine, jelly, and popcorn.

“We want to do some things that support the monasteries, and something that sets us apart.”

St. Raphael Books & Gifts can be found at 4365 Fulton Dr. NW in Canton.