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Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 1:40 pm
by Kealia
http://kron4.com/2017/10/06/holy-spirit ... breweries/

Personally, I love the idea. I'm not overly religious (ok, barely religious at all) so I have no problem with this but I'd love to hear others thoughts on where you stand on this. I don't believe the notion of not serving alcohol in a place of worship is an issue, because to me it's not about WHERE you do what you do, it's WHAT you do.

I think the open location, vaulted ceilings, stained glass, etc. could make for some beautiful breweries. I wish the article posted more pictures, but maybe some quick Googling will turn up some photos.

In any case, I'm curious to hear the opinions of others on this.

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 2:44 pm
by Beer-lord
I'm a Catholic and our priest drinks wine!!!!!! How bad can it be?
One of our best restaurants was a renovated church. Monks brew in monasteries that I assume are holy. But I think it's cool!

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 4:13 pm
by Dawg LB Steve
Why not! If they have been decommissioned and are going to be dismantled or leveled, sure is some pretty nice architectural accents built into the building already.

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Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 4:14 pm
by Kealia
I also thought this comment was a bit odd and out of context of the article:
"Sex abuse settlements by the Roman Catholic Church starting in the mid-2000s were not a factor because those payments were largely covered by insurers, according to Terrence Donilon, spokesman for the archdiocese of Boston."
And yeah, it looks like a cool place to me:
Image

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 4:21 pm
by mashani
Monks in Abbeys during the Holy Roman Empire times were allowed to consume something stupid like 7 or more liters of beer a day. (it was 2-3% beer, but still it was a lot).

So drinking beer on "holy ground" is not a new thing LOL.

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 5:42 pm
by berryman
Kealia wrote:http://kron4.com/2017/10/06/holy-spirit ... breweries/

Personally, I love the idea. I'm not overly religious (ok, barely religious at all) so I have no problem with this but I'd love to hear others thoughts on where you stand on this.
I grew up going to Sunday School and Church every Sunday, but don't much now except for a wedding or something. I think it is a great idea. There are so many closed cathedrals that are beautiful inside and out and just get tore down anyways, so why not do it. Just my .02 cents.... :clink:

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 6:40 pm
by John Sand
I think it might feel a bit strange, but it doesn't upset me. Maybe they should hold mass there on Sunday!
I visited an active church in Brooklyn that was believed to have had a brewery in the basement at some point in history.

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 7:38 pm
by BlackDuck
I’m catholic and attend church regularly. I don’t see an issue with it either. Just because your religious doesn’t mean you can’t drink. At least that’s my opinion. And I won’t get into why I believe that. Why waste such a beautiful building?


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Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 7:55 am
by RickBeer
A church, or temple, is a place of worship.

A church, or temple, that has been closed and purchased by someone else is a building. I will say that if I was buying such a building I'd ensure that no depictions of any "higher being" existed before I opened. Beautiful architecture, stained glass windows, but no crosses, Star of David, etc.

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:36 am
by FedoraDave
Belgian monks have been brewing beer for centuries. I'm sure other locations in Europe have similar tales to tell.

America has a weird concept of alcohol, and a weird concept of houses of worship. Even though it's a simple fact that Prohibition was a crappy idea, alcohol is still viewed as a vice, a sin, a pitfall on the path to perdition. I think beer is especially viewed this way, it being the preference of the "common man," thus the most likely to be abused. At least, it seems to me these are the perceptions.

Churches (especially Protestant denominations) excoriate the use of alcohol, again, because it's seen as a dirty, sinful thing. I grew up in a Conservative Baptist church, and one of the bylaws regarding accepting new members was that they not drink alcohol. Well, it was a bylaw until someone pointed out that, by this criterion, Jesus Christ couldn't become a member of the church. Even then, they changed it to read that alcohol consumption was discouraged.

Me, I don't necessarily believe in "hallowed" or "sacred" ground, and especially not "hallowed" or "sacred" buildings. Nor do I believe that brewing beer or drinking alcohol is a sin, the same way I don't think having money makes you evil.

I'd love to visit some of these new breweries.

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 1:31 pm
by Kealia
I see a friendly little competition brewing here (see what I did there?):
Who can visit one of these breweries first and post some pictures?

The winner will get......well, the admiration and envy of the rest of the Borg.

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:45 pm
by John Sand
RickBeer wrote:A church, or temple, is a place of worship.

A church, or temple, that has been closed and purchased by someone else is a building. I will say that if I was buying such a building I'd ensure that no depictions of any "higher being" existed before I opened. Beautiful architecture, stained glass windows, but no crosses, Star of David, etc.
Very well said.

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:11 pm
by RayF
And yeah, it looks like a cool place to me:
Image[/quote]

The place you have pictured I visit quite often. The Church Brew Works is a very cool place. They have very good food as well as their excellent beers! The atmosphere of this place is unique. The have a courtyard where they grow their own hops and have a summer outdoor dining area! If you are ever in Pittsburgh this place is a must stop for any beer enthusiast.

BTW, it's brewing time again! Hope to get back to it and be more active here on the Borg.

Re: Closed churches being used as breweries

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 12:01 am
by Kealia
Thats cool, Ray.

Id love to see pics of your next visit.

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