Monks That Make Beer: Spencer Brewery

The Soul of Life - A podcast by Keith Miller

I speak with Father Isaac Keeley, Trappist monk and Director of the Spencer Brewery at St. Joseph’s Abbey in the Central Massachusetts town of Spencer (my hometown). The Trappist monks of Spencer have lived a life of solitude and prayer on a 2,000 acre farm with a modest business selling jams, preserves, and handmade ceremonial garments. But 10 years ago the brothers of Spencer started researching ways to raise their income significantly. "We know there are 6 monastic breweries in Belgium, one of whom has been doing it since the 1580s. So we said well they’ve been doing it that long, there must be some compatibilities between the rhythms of monastic life and brewing." I asked Fr Isaac how they fit in the demands of running an industrial scale brewery with the contemplative life of the monastery. Check out my Mini-Course for couples: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHjcz6Ly2y9gr2mtMHIxu-fXXl8rE_PYJ Learn more about my 7-week, live, online basic mindfulness and IFS course for couples: https://souloflifeshow.com/mindful-marriage Join my Facebook Group called "Bring Love Alive:" https://www.facebook.com/groups/601405257684922 My Book, Love Under Repair: How to Save Your Marriage and Survive Couples Therapy https://amzn.to/2X3kPBL My Counseling Practice: https://keithmillercounseling.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoulOfLifeShow or Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoulofLifeShow ​Want to book Keith as a guest on your podcast? Contact him at [email protected].