I was just wondering this since I picked up a 4 pack at the store and it had a funny picture of a man who looks like a friar or monk (Franziskaner weissber for those wondering) and I have heard stories about monks in Europe who made beers and sometimes liquors like Chartreuse.

I started wondering Where does this rich history of brewing come from, how did some monks in robes start brewing beers that are still brewed today ? Also wasn’t temperance and self control a part of monastic life ; if so didn’t it seem weird to sell a product which could cause societal ills and in consumption cause a lack of a self control ? Was the pope/s chill with these monks making their own alcohols or did some try to crack down on their brewing?