The Catholic church throughout history doesn’t quite reach the level of being the embodiment of pure evil. The same applies for monasteries. Aside from rebelliously preserving literacy, literature, and philosophy through the dark ages, at least as far as the monks of the Trappist order in Belgium go, they at least brew some mighty fine beer.

I guess when you spend all your time devoted to reflection, it leaves a decent amount of time for cultivating yeast and brewing beer.