RogerRabbit
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 Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:21 am Post subject: Two N.M. Monestaries Seek Liquor License From State |
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Two N.M. Monestaries Seek Liquor License From State
Those European Monks do make a fine brew
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By Dave Kavanaugh
Journal Staff Writer
PECOS— It used to be, at least in Europe, you had to get thee to a monastery to find a beer.
Now, two New Mexico monasteries want to bring Europe's longstanding tradition here by opening a brewery on the grounds of the Pecos Benedictine Monastery east of Santa Fe.
The Abbey Beverage Company LLC is seeking approval of a state liquor license for the brewery.
Brad Kraus, of Santa Fe, who described himself as the "master brewer" for the project, said monks in Europe have been brewing beer for centuries.
Brother William of Abiquiu's Monastery of Christ in the Desert confirmed Kraus' retelling of history.
"At one point in medieval Europe," he said, "there were no other breweries but monastic breweries."
Brother William said monks brewed beer for everyday use, for holidays and for visitors. He said he thought the planned brewery-on-the-monastery at Pecos may be a first in the western hemisphere.
The planned Pecos brewery is a joint venture of the Pecos and Abiquiu monasteries.
Local approval of the brewery— a legal requirement for operation— is one hurdle already cleared, as the San Miguel County Commission on Tuesday voted 5-0 to give its blessing to a small-brewer category license.
The next step for Abbey Beverage is formal approval by the state Alcohol and Gaming Division.
Preliminary approval by that agency already has been secured, according to documentation presented by San Miguel County planning and zoning supervisor Alex Tafoya.
A waiver will be required because the proposed brewery will be located within 300 feet of a church or school. Specifically, it will be on or adjacent to the premises of the monastery itself, at 143 Cowles Highway just north of Pecos.
Tafoya informed commissioners that the applicants specified that there would be no on-site alcohol sales or consumption of the beer.
The brewery is expected to be on monastery property north of the monastery itself, but an exact location has not been selected.
Tradition is one reason for the proposed beer-making— economics is another.
Brother William, who was present for last week's County Commission meeting, said the brewery would increase the financial independence of the monastery, which relies on donations and outside support for sustenance.
It also will provide jobs to help boost the local economy, he said.
"We cannot count on the donations," he said. "God helps those who help themselves."
The Roman Catholic religious brother said one source of inspiration for the brewery concept is the quality of water in the Pecos River, which flows near the Pecos monastery.
Before voting, the commission held a public hearing on the licensing issue, and aside from the project's two representatives, no one spoke either for or against it.
Commissioner Kenneth Medina asked whether the brewery's organizers had brought samples of the product to the meeting, eliciting chuckles from the audience.
"We've got to get the license first," Kraus answered, drawing a few laughs himself.
One other issue the planned brewery may face involves the monastery's tax-exempt status.
Property tax assessments typically include exemptions either in part or in full if a property is used for religious or educational purposes. But if a portion of a property is deemed to be serving other purposes, including commercial gain, its tax-exempt status could be altered.
County Attorney Jesus Lopez said that would be a matter for the monastery and brewery to work out with the county assessor.
Abbey Beverage has a corporate address in Santa Fe— at 235 Don Gaspar, address of a shop called The Monks' Corner. The shop, run by the Christ in the Desert Monastery, sells a variety of items produced by monks, but no beer.
Brother William said the brewery is applying for a wholesale license that would allow sales to restaurants and retail outlets. Commercial investors will be approached within a couple of years, he noted. How big the operation will be, he said, will depend on the market response.
"We're being flexible," he said. |
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