I was talking to a friend last night and he passed on the following story, that was told to him by someone else.
The story goes, that the creation of Guinness came about because some monks, during Lent, wanted to create a thicker beer that would fill their fasting bellies more than just plain old beer.
I want so badly to believe that this story is true, but I can’t find anything to support this. Has anyone else heard this story?
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I haven’t heard of this. I love Guinness. However, if there is some truth to monks using a heavier beer to avoid the fasting hunger pains of Lent, I don’t think they were really honoring a true spirit of sacrifice during Lent
Imagine some sneaky monks brewing a very heavy, dark ale, like Guinness. Dark enough to cloak hidden nourishment, such as a chicken wing, or lamb shank! It has often been said that you “chew” Guinness rather than drink it.
Guineas was not developed as a fasbier. However there is a long tradition of beer for lent with monks along with other fasts.
http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/Doppelbock.html
And that should be fastenbier not fasbier.
Haha – this sounds like classic Monty Python.
“So they decided to ask the Holy Father in Rome for a special dispensation so that they could continued to brew it with a clear conscience. The Paulaners dispatched a cask of Lenten beer to Rome for the pope to try and to pass judgment. During its transport across the Alps and along the burning sun of Italy, unfortunately—or fortunately—the cask tossed and turned, and heated for several weeks—a classic condition for causing beer to turn sour and undrinkable. So when the Holy Father tasted the much-praised stuff from Munich, he found it (appropriately) disgusting. Because the brew was so vile, it was probably beneficial for the souls of the Munich monks to make and drink as much of it as they could. Therefore, he willingly gave the brewing of this new, allegedly rotten, beer style his blessing.”
I always thought it was invented as something “safe” to drink as an alternative to the contaminated ground water… also providing more nourishment.
When he was visiting Ireland, Chris heard that the government asked Arthur Guinness to make a beer that was healthy so they could give it to women after giving birth. They wanted a healthy drink with lots of nutrients in it to help the women recover. I don’t think that they still serve it to women after childbirth, but legend has it that they once did. Who knows if any of this is true.
Found this article supporting Lisa’s comment. Guinness was recommended to surgery patients and nursing mothers.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3266819.stm
Gotta say, I’m loving this conversation! Thank you Adam for getting giving us that first link and getting the ball rolling! (It does sound very “Monty Python”!)
Lisa – the first Guinness I ever drank was at your wedding… but they were warm. The groomsmen were downing them straight out of the trunk of a car, so they could tie the cans on to your bumper. It was gross.
(Since then, I’ve seen the light.)