>
> Mais la plus fréquente des explications donne pour origine le prince Jean 1er, duc de Brabant et marquis d’Anvers. Né en 1251 et mort en 1294, Bon vivant et gai luron, l’une de ces principales occupations était de pourchasser les brigands. Après une nouvelle victoire, il donna un festin commémoratif. Comme le voulait l’usage, il adressa un discours à ses vassaux. La foule nombreuse et bruyante était difficile a haranguer. Aussi dut-il se jucher sur un tonneau de bière pour que la foule puisse le voir. Et c’est la chope à la main qu’il fit son allocution. Bien vite la troupe enthousiaste se mis à scander son
> nom " Jan Primus, Jan Primus... ". Ce qui devint phonétiquement Gambrinus...
>
> L’Eglise catholique n’a jamais reconnu de saint de la bière, mis à part peut-être St-Arnould... Gambrinus n’est qu’un roi laïc au royaume immense.

Hi Fred

I found something similar in a (very) brief history of Belgian brewing
http://www.breworld.com/belgium/history.html

"The middle ages was also a period of plague. During one outbreak a monk named Arnold, who had established a monastery in Oudenburg, persuaded people to drink beer in place of water and when they did so the plague disappeared. Arnold became Saint Arnoldus, the Patron Saint of brewers.

Not content with a beer’s own saint the Belgians also have their own King of Beer, Duke Jean I (c.1251-1295). Duke Jean I of Jan Primus in Flemish was ruler of Brabant, Louvain and Antwerp, he was a bon vivant and liked beer. He introduced a law against the adulteration of beer. It is said that Jan Primus (in Flemish) or Gambrinus (as he was named in the rest of Europe) could drink 144 mugs of beer during a single feast. Today his name is still present in a Walloon student song sung during drinking competitions. Jan Primus is still King, however, and it is unlikely that his record shall be beaten."

Interesting - I had heard the association many times but never knew the origin.
Our local group here for beer and brewing enthusiasts is L’Ordre de St-Arnould, after the Patron Saint. They have a "babillard" at http://www.st-arnould.com
It is sort of dull these days, but sometimes it's interesting, and once in awhile, all hell breaks loose and they start fighting like cats and dogs for some reason.