I'm bottling my latest batch of ale tonight so I thought I'd invoke an old (and official) blessing from the Rituale Romanum:
Bene+dic, Domine, creaturam istam cerevisae, quam ex adipe frumenti producere dignatus es: ut sit remedium salutare humano generi: et praesta per invocationem nominis tui sancti, ut, quicumque ex ea biberint, sanitatem corporis, et animae tutelam percipiant. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
(The + represents the Sign of the Cross.)
For those of you less versed in Latin, this translates as:
"Bless, O Lord, this creature beer, that Thou hast been pleased to bring forth from the sweetness of the grain: that it might be a salutary remedy for the human race: and grant by the invocation of Thy holy name, that, whosoever drinks of it may obtain health of body and a sure safeguard for the soul. Through Christ our Lord. Amen." *
According to this guy, Pope John XXIII in 1962 expressly allowed this blessing to be used in any pub, bar, alehouse, inn, tavern or saloon (but a club needs special permission!)
UPDATE: I stand corrected. The Pope didn't specifically address this blessing. The guy was making a jocular reference to the "Summorum Pontificum" which was issued by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 to allow priests greater freedom in using certain liturgical rites. I missed the subtle Catholic humor. Thanks for the correction.
* Some claim the following translation is more accurate, but I leave that to the linguists:
"Our lager,
which art in barrels,
hallowed be thy drink,
thy will be drunk, (I will be drunk),
at home as I am in the tavern.
Give us this day our foamy head,
and forgive us our spillages,
as we forgive those who spill against us,
and lead us not to incarceration,
but deliver us from hangovers,
for thine is the beer,
the bitter and the lager,
forever and ever,
Barmen."
