There's a subreddit called Monks Looking At Beer dedicated to, appropriately, monks looking at beer

Turns out if there's one things those brothers and sisters of the cloth like just as much as the good lord upstairs, it's looking at beer

They really, really like looking at it

To the point one imagines they get pioused off their tiny tonsured nuts just looking at

Occasionally drinking it, too

But looking remains the primary mode of veneration

We spoke to the subreddit's moderators, u/DannyDinglehart and u/Respectfullyyours, to find out just why the hell monks love looking at beer...

What prompted you to set up the subreddit?

DannyDinglehart: One fateful night over a bottle of doppelbrock I started searching 'alcoholism' on Google Images. I noticed there was an unusual amount of pictures depicting monks looking at beer. Over the next few days I searched for and collected nearly hundreds of these pictures, and knew that I had to somehow share them with the world.

Respectfullyyours: I'm just his faithful servant.

What do you think it is about the monastic lifestyle that seems to lend itself so much to beer, and viewing it reverentially through the act of 'looking'?

Respectfullyyours: I think after a day of studying religious texts, painstakingly reproducing manuscripts, or chanting, there needs to be something to take off the edge. Looking, contemplating and appreciating have such a large role in monastic life, as well as moderation and abstention, that it makes perfect sense a tradition like this would arise.

DannyDinglehart: Abstinence from luxuries is one of the most profound ideas circulated through the monastic circles. Beer, however, was one exception as monks were traditionally allowed to drink beer in place of food during lent. Often times it was too indulgent to simply drink the beer, so monks invented the art of simply looking at beer instead. It is estimated that the first monk to brew Trappist beer did so in the early 1600s, signifying the start of the modern era.

Respectfullyyours: Also beer making as a hobby takes skills, time, experimentation and this environment lends itself particularly well to passing down secrets from generation to generation.

Do you have a favourite beer-looking monk?

DannyDinglehart: Choosing a favorite trappist monk is like choosing a favorite child, each one is special to me in their own way.

Respectfullyyours: I love how mischievous Saint Bobo looks. He's found within the letter of an illuminated manuscript, caught in the act of swigging some beer and filling up another pitcher full for later.

Do you have a favourite monk-looking beer?

Respectfullyyours: I feel like in this painting you can almost taste the beer.

DannyDinglehart: This picture of a monk from the second dimension looking at beer from the third dimension.

If you could share a pint with any monk from history, living or dead (or still living in heaven), who would you choose?

Respectfullyyours: Is it cheating if I pick a nun? I'd love to share a beer with Hildegard von Bingen. She wrote, she composed music, she was a philosopher and she had crazy visions that she'd draw in her manuscripts. I feel like she'd have a lot of interesting things to say.

DannyDinglehart: The first monk, brother Jesus. He was gifted by the Lord with the ability to turn wine into grape-beer.

Have you thought about converting to the cloth since starting the subreddit?

Respectfullyyours: As tempting as this subreddit makes it look, I probably have more freedom to indulge in beer without converting. Especially as I don't think I could pull off a nun's habit as well as the next gal.

DannyDinglehart: I fight the urge every day.

What are your biggest monastic tunes to get yourselves pumped for an evening of steady drinking?

DannyDinglehart: There are so many choices, but I personally prefer songs from the Burgundian school of music.

Respectfullyyours: Basically anything on r/medievalmusic. I just set up a playlist with the top posts and then start looking at/drinking my beers.

DannyDinglehart: I just found a new favorite subreddit.

And finally, if you could decree one Monks Looking At Beer commandment onto your followers, what would it be?

DannyDinglehart: I think I would choose the commandment to "do not question the will of the Lord, for he works in mysterious ways", as it is profoundly wholesome and acts as a catch all for any posts I feel should be added to the wall of shame.