Just In Time For St. Pat's: Hamas Beer Goes Green

Palestinian "Taybeh" brewery is getting into the non-alcoholic beer market with a new "Hamas" brand, featuring a distinctive green label. Taybeh currently comes in "Golden," dark, and light varieties (all alcoholic), and has been prohibited in Gaza since the beginning of the al-Aqsa intifada, but brewer Nadim Khoury, an American-raised (and judging by his name, Christian) resident of the sweet and delicious village of Taybeh near Ramallah, is hoping the new leaders of the Palestinian entity have absorbed Frank Zappa's model of nation-building:

Currently, some 1.2 million pints of [alcoholic] 'Taybeh' beer are sold yearly, though prior to the 2000 Intifada against the Israeli occupation, sales were more than twice that much.

Moreover, for the past several years, Taybeh has not been sold in the Gaza Strip, as one of his distribution outlets was torched by those offended by Taybeh's sales there.

However, says Khoury, he believes that since all Palestinians are interested in a unified goal, Hamas leaders will recognize the positive side of the success of his brewery.

Which is as good a time as any to note that my favorite beer slogan of all time is an old one for Lebanon's Almaza:

"One People, One Beer"

Comments

[Deus ex Machina]

I’d love to what advertisements they come up for this. Can you imagine the Hamas Beer Twins?

[Martin Owens]

Here’s a better one:

” Hamas beer: Strap on six of these and still be here tomorrow”.

Actually , of course, Mr Khoury will likely be forced to stop brewing alcoholic beer because it’s against sharia; then non-alcoholic beer because it
too closely resembles something that is un-Islamic; and finally they’ll shoot him to ribbons one night because he’s Christian, or the wrong kind of Muslim, or because they just goddamn well feel like it.

He better move back here while he’s still got the chance.

[methodman]

Moreover, for the past several years, Taybeh has not been sold in the Gaza Strip, as one of his distribution outlets was torched by those offended by Taybeh’s sales there.

MADD really doesn’t fuck around over there!

[Bergamot]

They needed something to combat The Chosen Beer…

[Brian]

Declare a jihad on your thirst.

[brian423]

Why can’t Islam have a self-deprecating sense of humor as seen in Bergamot’s link above?

[happyjuggler0]

Why can?t Islam have a self-deprecating sense of humor as seen in Bergamot?s link above?

It’s not just Islam. Remember the brouhaha (funny beer?) over the Santa on a beer import? I don’t remember the details at all but either a state made it illegal or a boycott made it hard to even find in the stores.

[John M. Joy]

That would be Connecticut, and the issue was over Seriously Bad Elf, which had Santa’s sleigh (presumably containing Santa) on the label. The Powers That Be originally would not grant approval for sale in the state, but ultimately reversed that decision and permitted it. (Not that I’ve bought any, mind you.)

JMJ

[John M. Joy]

FWIW, the Dept. of Consumer “Protection” was pulling a “think of the children!” on Seriously Bad Elf (invoking regulations about advertising appealing to kids).

A closer analogue (well, sort of) to the aforementioned “self-deprecating sense of humor” (or lack thereof) might be the “Jesus Juice” debacle:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1220052jesus1.html

JMJ

[jf]

Declare a jihad on your thirst.

Slogan of the new century. I love it.

[brian423]

It takes a lot more humorlessness to start riots and issue death threats than to sue and boycott. It’s not the same thing.

[Mohammed al-Sikhspak]

Try the new

Fatwa Lite
bin Lager
Pakistan Pale Ale
72 Virgins non-alcoholic
West Bank Bock
and Mecca’s Malt Liquor

[Ollie Ali Oxenfree]

So this beer won’t get you bombed?

What’s the point?