(Philadelphia, PA) – Abbey of Christ in the Desert and Bella Vista Beer Distributors have come to an agreement to have Monks’ Ale and Monks’ Wit distributed in eastern Pennsylvania. This marks the very first time that beer from the monastery will be shipped out of state.

Currently, Abbey of Christ in the Desert is the only benedictine monastery to brew beer in the United States. Monks Ale and Monks Wit will become available to retailers throughout eastern PA in two formats: 12oz bottles and draft. We at Bella Vista strive to bring to the region the best and most sought after beers and beer styles to our market, and with the addition of this unique brewery we feel that these beers will be well received throughout our footprint. Look for cases and kegs to be available towards the middle of August.

What’s the Monks’ Ale like?

It’s along the lines of the beers Trappist breweries produce for the monks themselves to drink but don’t sell commercially (such as Westmalle Extra and Chimay Doree). A 1.052 (13 degrees Plato) beer, it’s 4.7% abv and 16 IBUs. The grain bill included two-row pale, honey malt and aromatic malt, and Monk’s Ale was hopped with Hallertauer, Styrian Goldings and Czech Saaz.(Brew Like a Monk Sept. 25, 2005)

The Monastery of Christ in the Desert, Abiquiu, New Mexico, U.S.A., was founded in 1964 by Fr. Aelred Wall, OSB, with monks of Mount Saviour Monastery in New York state. In 1983 the Monastery of Christ in the Desert was received into the English Province of the Subiaco Congregation as a Conventual Priory and in 1996 became an autonomous abbey.

Bella Vista Specialty Wholesalers. Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A., was founded in 1984 by Marinos and Olimpia Fetfatzes, husband and wife immigrants hailing from Greece and Portugal as a retail store. In 2004 Bella Vista became a licensed independent Importing Distributor.