'Blessing of the Beer' Honors Belgium's 1,000-Year Old Brewing Tradition

Brewers and beer lovers in Belgium blessed a barrel of beer. A procession worthy of a saint carried the cask through the streets of Brussels. It culminated in a special Mass at a cathedral. The service supposedly guarantees good beer for the year ahead. Beer and religion have a long history in Belgium. Belgian monks have been brewing beer for over 1,000 years. And this blessing is part of a tradition that dates back to the 11th century.