That special time of year has come once again when Mardi Gras parades have ended, foreheads have been ashed, and millions of devout Christians have entered a season of self-deprivation better known as ‘Lent’. The word literally means “slow” in French and it can truly be a tortuous period for those who have decided to give up their favorite vices such as potato chips or chocolates or lattes. Indeed, there are many ways to deprive oneself in preparation for the Easter celebration, but perhaps the greatest and most traditional way of all is the one that monks themselves have been using for centuries – the Beer Diet.
While Lent has generally been watered down in today’s society, it was a pretty hardcore event in the MidDle Ages – people were held to much stricter rules and regulations (we’ve all seen the movie Chocolat – and that was based in the 50’s!). Most orders of monks were not allowed to eat from sunrise to sundown (some couldn’t eat at all) and had to survive on a liquid diet. Naturally, in a time when water was unreliable and full of microorganisms that could off even the hardiest of monks, it made beer the natural choice of champions.
As glorious as a beer diet may seem, it did indeed offer some challenges for a time of year where the weather was brutally cold and monks needed to endure many hardships. As such, the “Doppelbock” style was born – a style with extra grain to provide more nutrition and sustenance than the standard German beer of its time period. Doppelbocks were also great for liquid diets because they have a more robust flavor that satisfies an appetite with a high alcohol content (6.5% to 9%) to stymie off even the coldest March night. The “Doppelbock” style of beer was the rage in
There are many great styles of “Lenten” beers, but the one that exemplifies the style is Paulaner’s “Salvator,” an absolutely delicious beer. On its own this beer represents a very low calorie Lenten meal. Most German brewers have adopted the “ator” ending for their versions of the Lenten classic with other great beers like Spaten’s Optimator and Ayinger’s Celebrator. There are also wheat influenced versions such as Schneider & Sohn’s Aventinus. This “weizen bock” comes in a bottle with a purple label and is on my all time top 10 beer list – it is awesome on its own or with a hearty winter meal on a cold night.
While I do not practice any particular acts of self-deprivation, I can easily see the merits of a beer diet and I wish you the best of luck in all of your religious or secular acts of self-discipline. If you are like me and love a good beer on a cool March evening, then sit back and enjoy a Doppelbock – you’ll be part of a centuries old tradition!
