The Nun Who Changed Beer: St. Hildegard of Bingen

St. Hildegard of Bingen was one of the most remarkable women of the Middle Ages—a Benedictine abbess, mystic, theologian, composer, writer, and student of the natural world. But she also has an unexpected connection to something many people still enjoy today: beer.

In this episode of FACTS, we explore the life of St. Hildegard, from her childhood visions and monastic formation to her rise as one of the most influential religious voices of the twelfth century. We’ll look at her writings, her relationship with figures such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux and Pope Eugene III, her work in medicine and natural science, her music, and the remarkable influence she exercised over bishops, popes, and political leaders.

We’ll also examine the story behind “The Nun Who Changed Beer.” Hildegard did not invent beer or hops, but in her Physica she recorded one of the most famous medieval observations concerning hops and their ability to keep beverages from spoiling. At a time when monasteries were important centers of agriculture, medicine, hospitality, and brewing, Hildegard’s writings give us a fascinating glimpse into the development of medieval beer.

So how much did St. Hildegard actually change brewing? Why is she so closely associated with beer today? And how did a twelfth-century Benedictine nun eventually become a Doctor of the Church?

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