St. Benedict's Brew Works

After more than a year of planning, construction and prayers, St. Benedict’s Brew Works has scheduled its brewery ribbon cutting and Oktoberfest celebration beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Oct. 10, on the grounds of the Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Ind.

St. Benedict’s Brew Works, located at 860 E. 10th St. in the Sisters’ former art studio, is the only United States craft brewery operating on the grounds of a women’s religious community. Founded in 1867, the Sisters of St. Benedict community is one of the largest congregations of religious sisters in the nation.

“There are three communities of monks in the United States who operate breweries, but we believe St. Benedict’s is the only beer-brewing operation in the U.S. attached to a women’s monastery,” said Vince Luecke, one of the brewer’s owners. “We know of a beer-brewing sister in Mallersdorf Abbey in Germany. Her brewery and ours may be only two in the world.”

Southern Indiana natives Luecke and co-owner Andy Hedinger grew up in in the shadows of the Sisters’ Monastery Immaculate Conception and nearby Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Luecke studied for a time for the priesthood under the monks at Saint Meinrad, while Hedinger and his family operate Monkey Hollow Winery, a farm winery nearby. 

The new brewery was licensed this summer and already is producing small hand-crafted batches of beer. St. Benedict’s Brew Works is producing several styles of beer, from a creamy ale and rich wheat Hefeweizen to an old-fashioned German Kolsch, altbier and an extra special release in the spirit of Oktoberfest.”

The brewery will begin bottling its beer later this year in time for the holidays.

"It is an exciting time to be a craft brewery in Indiana and the U.S. It's a movement all its own and we are proud to be a part of it," Hedinger said.  “We brew in small batches ;and while we have a brew schedule, we also have a whimsical and experimental side that will be fully utilized.  Brewing is an art and we plan on expressing ourselves in many different ways." 

Initial brewery hours will be Friday through Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. ET.

For more information on St. Benedict’s Brew Works, its beer and upcoming events, visit www.saintbenedictsbrewworks.com. Information also is available on the brewery’s Facebook page or by calling (812) 719-2301.