Most of the time, giving up something for Lent means you end up with a lot less of something good. For one Toronto Christian, that something good is food, but he is replacing it with something some people might consider even better: beer.

Chris Schryer, a self-proclaimed foodie and trained cook, decided to give up food for Lent because its his "very favorite."

"...beer has been his breakfast, lunch and dinner," Jordan St. John, Schreyer's friend, wrote for QMI Agency. "Chris has given up solid food for Lent in emulation of the monastic order who created Dopplebock in Bavaria in the 17th century."

Schryer is also drinking "clear liqiuds," which eliminates all dairy drinks and fruit smoothies. According to St. John, beer is the main food group because its oats contain nutritional "proteins and unfermentable sugars."

"In order to remain productive during his fast, Chris is having a 341ml bottle of beer at breakfast, another at lunch and a 650ml bottle at dinner," St. John explained. "In order to regulate his blood sugar between meals, he is drinking apple juice and lightly sugared tea."

According to Schryer's friend, he has yet to get drunk during his Lenten fast. In addition, he drinks "several" liters worth of water every day.

Schryer's venture has obviously garnered attention, making the beer diet harder than expected.

"It's a lot easier than if I were, to use the religious term, cloistered," Schreyer told St. John. "If I were at the cottage, it would be harder because you'd just cheat."

Schryer has also had to deal with judgments and labels that arose from his unorthodox sacrifice. The Canadian, who also likes to blog about and brew beer, insists that his infatuation with the drink is healthy. In a detailed March 19 blog post, Schryer dissects the meaning of alcoholism and even opens up about the disease in his own family.

"I am not an alcoholic," Schreyer wrote on his TorontoBeerBlog.com. "...So as I sit here, with my lunch in a glass, know that I'm not blissfully unaware (or painfully aware) of being an alcoholic. Know that I'm aware that there but for a great upbringing, a supportive family, and the very grace of God, go I."

Overall, Schreyer seems to have God-focused motives for his fast, and Lent followers can at least cheers to that.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @SH____4.

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