A man from Ohio is adopting a rather unusual Lenten fast: he will eat nothing and drink only beer. Del Hall, a marathon-running US Army veteran, discovered that 17th-century monks in the German town of Einbeck invented a special dark beer, high in alcohol, to help them through times of extreme fasting. This became known as Bock, a corruption of the town’s name. Other monks, wanting an even stronger beer, developed Doppelbock, also known as “liquid bread” – like a German Guinness. There is an apocryphal story that the monks, seeking papal approval for their brew, took samples of Doppelbock to Rome. It spoiled during the journey and the Pope disliked it so strongly he approved it as a Lenten penance. Hall plans to drink water too, and will consult his doctor regularly during his penance.
2:00 PM
Meanwhile: Fasting on beer; a rare glimpse of a crucifix
a man from ohio is adopting a rather unusual lenten fast: he will eat nothing and drink only beer. del hall, a marathon-running us army vete...
The Catholic Herald
2 min read
Already a subscriber? Sign in
5freearticles every month
Continue reading with a free account. No card needed.
- Five free articles every thirty days, on any device you sign in on
- The Catholic Herald newsletter, every morning
- Subscribe whenever you like for everything: every article and the magazine
subscribe to the catholic herald today
Our best content is exclusively available to our subscribers. Subscribe today and gain instant access to expert analysis, in-depth articles, and thought-provoking insights—anytime, anywhere. Don’t miss out on the conversations that matter most.
Subscribe
