Brewery Cancels Release Of Crips & Bloods-Themed Beer After Receiving Backlash

I just need to know whose idea this was, how they came up with it, and how it actually got approved by the board. Mirage Beer, a Seattle-based brewery, has cancelled the release of their Bloods and Crips-themed beers. I just know they thought they were doing something with this one right here!

The company announced their release in a post on the ‘gram over the weekend with a photo of red and blue bandana-esq cans. The titles of the beers are “Snitch Blood” and “Where You From”. I’m not going to lie, I chuckled at the audacity.

The beers were set to be released on Tuesday, however, that clearly is no longer happening. The now deleted IG post received a lot of backlash from people who were offended.

The owner of Mirage Beer company, Michael Dempster, put out an apology statement.

“It breaks my heart that I’m the reason for anyone feeling less welcome in the craft beer community, and I’m sorry anyone had to waste any energy at all on me or my ignorant label ideas,” his apology read. “I hope to further demonstrate my remorse in a way folks find meaningful, emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in beer, or otherwise helps prevent anyone from making similar mistakes.”

Michael also told Yahoo Lifestyle that “the labels have been destroyed, and I owe a debt of gratitude to the beer community for sounding the alarm. It was a stupid and insensitive idea, and I’m embarrassed and ashamed that I hurt anyone.”

Michael agrees that “those labels were a dumb idea,” and says he is still going to release the beers under a different name, giving all proceeds to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Here’s what some people had to say about the beer’s theme!

Mirage Beer… those new beers y’all are releasing is a dub. Y’all are entitled, non creative Kulture vultures that deserves to fail, hard & fast. Fuck all the politeness, people have died over that shit you’re trying to use to be down & kool. FUCK YALL. pic.twitter.com/VkOpDkSEVi

— Beer Kulture (@beerkulture) May 27, 2019

This is not a game! What’s up with this? Your intentions would be really nice to try to understand.

This is serious shit for many people.

You want to be cute? Sponsor a 3 on 3 or an art event in an inner city (and stay for the entire event).

— Kristine Gauthier (@kgauthier7) May 27, 2019

This is so fucked up. Knowing all the CHILDREN that died because of that, I fail to see the quirkiness of these cans.

— Robin LeBlanc, from work (@TheThirstyWench) May 27, 2019