• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

eBay will pay nearly $50 million after employees reportedly sent a Massachusetts couple a bloody pig mask, cockroaches and death threats

2

Current price of oil as of July 28, 2026

3

The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'

1

eBay will pay nearly $50 million after employees reportedly sent a Massachusetts couple a bloody pig mask, cockroaches and death threats

2

Current price of oil as of July 28, 2026

3

The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
RetailPope Francis

Pope-themed beers to bless Philadelphia’s faithful

By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 28, 2015, 11:02 AM ET
Philadelphia Brewing Company's "Holy Wooter" beer pays tribute to Pope Francis.
Philadelphia Brewing Company's "Holy Wooder" beer pays tribute to Pope Francis.Image Courtesy Philadelphia Brewing Company
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Philadelphia brewers don’t need divine intervention to come up with a creative way to toast Pope Francis’s visit to the City of Brotherly Love. A small batch of beer with a funky sounding name will do just fine.

A handful of craft and microbreweries in the Philadelphia region are seeing a prime marketing opportunity with the visit of Pope Francis, who will be in the city the weekend of Sept. 26-27. Timely brews include names such as “Jesus Wept,” “Holy Wooder,” “Nope,” “Pap Ale,” and “You Only Pope Once.”

An emerging economy tied Pope Francis’s arrival next month has inspired local restaurants and bars, apparel makers, artists, and others to tap surging interest in the occasion. And that means there’s money to be made. The Pope’s visit, along with the World Meeting of Families (an event held every three years), is expected to boost the city’s economy by $417.8 million, according to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.

That news excites Dennis Hewlett, owner of a South Philadelphia bar called The Pub on Passyunk East (whose initials spell out POPE). He intends to stock pope-themed beers for the occasion and host special nights throughout the week including a “Confessional Happy House” and a “Last Supper.”

“I’m rallying behind it,” Hewlett says. “Having a bar named ‘The Pope’ doesn’t hurt.”

 

The craft beers marking the occasion are being launched in small quantities and are mainly available on tap behind a bar or for servings at tasting rooms and small restaurants.

“It is a great way to bring in new beer lovers to be exposed to your brewery and also reward your loyal customers with something new,” says Julia Herz, craft beer program director for the Brewers Association, a nationwide industry group. Herz says the country’s smallest brewers are often best-positioned to launch limited beers around big events because they are already in the business of making small batches.

Here are a few of the local beers on tap to toast the Pope:

Holy Wooder. If you’re from the Philadelphia region, you’ll understand that the name is a play on how locals pronounce “water.” Made by Philadelphia Brewing Company, the beer is a Belgian Tripel. It is a style co-owner Bill Barton says fit the brew he envisioned, as he didn’t want to make a light beer to honor Pope Francis: “We thought something a bit more savory, or a sipping type of beer, would work.” Holy Wooder will be sold throughout the Philadelphia region.

Jesus Wept. Philadelphia-based Crime & Punishment will debut its version of a German sour wheat beer known as Gose, the week of Sept. 23 to commemorate the Pope’s visit. Brewer Mike Wambolt, who has a master’s degree in theological studies, says the name was inspired by the Bible: “Jesus Wept” is from John 11:35. “It is the only style where salt plays a major role in the flavor profile,” Wambolt says.

Nope. New Jersey’s largest brewery, Flying Fish Brewing Co., is also getting in on the action for area residents who don’t want to make the pilgrimage to Philadelphia. The Somerdale, N.J.-based company will be serving a small batch of the IPA to gently poke fun of the hype the Pope’s arrival is generating. “We say it is for folks who have no interest in walking over the bridge to Philadelphia,” says Gene Muller, Flying Fish founder and president. “It is a moderate amount of alcohol that won’t force you to serve any kind of penance the next morning.”

Pap-Ale. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant head brewer Chris LaPierre says he wanted to create his first Belgian Single beer after already experimenting and serving many Dubbels and Tripels in the past. His inspiration? He wanted to craft a beer in the style brewed in Belgian monasteries, where Trappist monks spent their days making beers but were only allowed to drink the lower alcohol beverages. The beer at the time was referred to as Patersbier, which means “Father’s beer.”

You Only Pope Once. Cape May Brewing Co. is distributing its “very hoppy pale ale” in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, N.J., as well as in the Cape May region near the New Jersey shore. Co-founder and president Ryan Krill says a few colorful names were floated in the conceptualization process, but in the end, the brewer went with a title that was respectful.

About the Author
By John KellContributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence

John Kell is a contributing writer for Fortune and author of Fortune’s CIO Intelligence newsletter.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Retail

Costco’s $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline
RetailCostco
Costco’s $14 million email settlement: Who qualifies for an up-to $500 payment and how to claim before the Aug. 24 deadline
By Sydney LakeJuly 29, 2026
3 hours ago
js
SuccessEntrepreneurs
‘We’re on top of every restock’: This 24-year-old has made over $4 million off his subscription-based reselling community
By Joshua HongJuly 29, 2026
11 hours ago
Photo of former CEO David Wenig
LaweBay
eBay will pay nearly $50 million after employees reportedly sent a Massachusetts couple a bloody pig mask, cockroaches and death threats
By The Associated Press and Leah WillinghamJuly 28, 2026
21 hours ago
erling
Arts & EntertainmentJD Sports Fashion
The Erling Haaland boom: Norway’s ‘pop-up economy’ during the World Cup revealed in Visa data
By Catherina GioinoJuly 28, 2026
1 day ago
arnault
C-SuiteLVMH
Bernard Arnault is denying a family rift—and any kind of real-life Succession. LVMH earnings tell a stranger story
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 28, 2026
1 day ago
kfc
RetailAuction
‘He did wear clip-ons’: KFC founder Colonel Sanders’ pressure cooker, bow ties, former home up for auction
By Dylan Lovan and The Associated PressJuly 28, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

eBay will pay nearly $50 million after employees reportedly sent a Massachusetts couple a bloody pig mask, cockroaches and death threats
Law
eBay will pay nearly $50 million after employees reportedly sent a Massachusetts couple a bloody pig mask, cockroaches and death threats
By The Associated Press and Leah WillinghamJuly 28, 2026
21 hours ago
Current price of oil as of July 28, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 28, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 28, 2026
1 day ago
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
Real Estate
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going 'back to the early 1900s'
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 25, 2026
4 days ago
Jamie Dimon says his stockbroker father taught him to invest with a 'brutally hard' childhood game
C-Suite
Jamie Dimon says his stockbroker father taught him to invest with a 'brutally hard' childhood game
By Sarah GlodekJuly 29, 2026
11 hours ago
Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights—and taking us back to the 19th century?
C-Suite
Why did a $154 billion CEO just endorse stripping most Americans of voting rights—and taking us back to the 19th century?
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 27, 2026
2 days ago
The brutal math behind Gen Z's lonely weekends: $15 drinks are driving a generational 'spending hangover'
Economy
The brutal math behind Gen Z's lonely weekends: $15 drinks are driving a generational 'spending hangover'
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 28, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.