A question printed on the back of a Damiaan Donker bottle anticipates what inquiring minds want to know: "Is it right to honour a saint with a beer?"

The beer's creator, chef Donato Loperfido, explained why he thinks it is.

Loperfido is a lifelong Catholic who originally hails from Puglia, Italy. He has lived in Hawaii for about 25 years and has worked in the local food and beverage industry since he arrived. He currently runs Flavors of Italy, a company that imports international food and wine to the islands.

The idea to create a brew in honour of St. Damien came to Loperfido in 2009. The chef happened to be visiting Italy on the day of Damien's canonization, Oct. 11, and got wind of the events in Rome. As Damien was elevated to sainthood, Loperfido was awestruck at the honour received by the humble Belgian priest who served in Kalaupapa.

"I was very happy reading the paper one day when Fr. Damien was canonized," he said.

Loperfido wanted to create his own tribute to Hawaii's new saint, so he turned to his passion for fine fare. A review of his culinary connections led him to a small Belgian beer manufacturer called Brouwerij Kerkom, located near Damien's hometown of Tremelo. Loperfido contacted the brewery and told them of his idea to craft a beer for St. Damien.

"Belgium is the land of beer," Loperfido said. "I told (the brewers) I want something gentle like Fr. Damien was, with a little bit of spice" to represent Damien's "courage."

It took about six to eight months to develop the perfect recipe, Loperfido said. A blonde ale was one of the options created by the Belgian brewers, but Loperfido said the lighter beer wasn't strong enough to convey St. Damien's boldness and depth of character. They eventually brewed the perfect dark ale and launched it exclusively in Hawaii last year.

At Whole Foods in Kahala Mall, Damiaan Donker is sold in 11.2-ounce bottles for $5.99.

Steve Smith, a beer specialist at Whole Foods, said the store has been carrying the beer for about four or five months. He describes the beer as a "steady mover" in sales, and said Damiaan Donker is a great beer for the islands because of its taste and namesake.

"We love our Belgian beers, and of course the relationship between Fr. Damien and Hawaii is undisguiseable," Smith said. "It's a darker-style beer, but it's pretty fruit-forward and crafted with Hawaii in mind."

One of the local residents who has tasted Damiaan Donker is Sacred Hearts Father Herman Gomes. The pastor of St. Ann Church in Kaneohe said a friend had brought him bottles of the ale to sample.

"The beer was fairly good," he said.

So what does Gomes, a member of St. Damien's religious order, think about honouring a saint with a beer?

"Anything that brings people to an awareness of the life and works of Fr. Damien is good," he said. "We need more ways of getting the word out to all people.

"Beer is a good thing as long as it is not taken in excess," he added.