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People are furious with this brewery’s “disgusting” beer labels
Beer fans have taken to social media to vent their “disgust” at a microbrewery’s “sexist and unacceptable” bottle labels.
Twitter users were “disgusted” by the vulgar branding.
Members of the group Ladies That Beer were outraged by the branding on bottles of an English Bitter called Deep Throat, which show a cartoon of a woman and what appears to be a corn cob rammed down her throat.
The drinks were produced by an independent brewery in Italy.
“This label sh*t is not acceptable,” they wrote, adding that it was “one of the worst things we’ve seen.”
Members took to Twitter to voice their “disgust” at the marketing.
Good Beer Hunting editor Matthew Curtis also weighed into the row, praising others for calling out “the idiots” behind the branding on Deep Beer’s Facebook page.
In his tweet, he included a screenshot from the page, which showed a member of London-based beer group Crafty Beer Girls asking if they believed the label was “funny and/or appropriate. Because it isn’t, it’s offensive.”
This label shit is so NOT acceptable!! One of the worst we’ve seen😡
Belongs to Italian brewery Deep Beer. pic.twitter.com/CnSWfe8TEY— Ladies That Beer (@ladiesthatbeer) October 13, 2017
Shout out to @sargentian @diannespanner @mars_1871 & @rpate for calling out the idiots behind this monstrosity over on Facebook today. pic.twitter.com/FaS94GiKmO
— Matthew Curtis (@totalcurtis) October 13, 2017
Other Twitter users also criticised the brewery’s consistent use of phallic symbolism.
I couldn’t find that post, but this cover photo, oh my. pic.twitter.com/S0htQj5GH5
— Peter (@lumpen_prole) October 13, 2017
Responding to the complaint, Deep Beer said: “Are you serious?”
“The story of the beer label you do not know, and the meaning is far from offensive.”
“Do you know what satire means?”
the drinks business understands that Deep Beer has since deleted its Facebook page.
Julie O’Grady, founder and contributor at Ladies That Beer, told the drinks business her team were “disgusted” by the post, which was “not at all inclusive,” and even less impressed with the brewer’s “dismissive and rude” response.
“It’s hard to believe a brewery thought it was ok to promote this beer label and name.”
Speaking to the Mirror, Deep Beer owner Francesco Di Palma said: “Beer is produced with a particular type of local maize, in fact on the label there is not (a penis), but a cob.
“The name was decided because we thought… the real message was to drink beer all over.”
He added: “If there was a man on the label, it would not change anything.”
O’Grady said that, while the group does not actively campaign against misogyny in the craft beer industry, they will always stand up to sexism.
“If we see anything misogynistic or are made aware, we will approach bars/breweries to let them know it’s not acceptable and why.”
“Beer is a drink to be enjoyed by all. It has no sex.”
O’Grady called on craft beer firms to promote their products “without using offensive and unnecessary pictures or names.”
“It’s time to move on and leave the caveman where he belongs!”