A beer named after Osama Bin Laden has sold out following a surge in popularity on social media.
Mitchell Brewing Co, based in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, experienced an overwhelming demand for its Osama Bin Lager, leading staff to temporarily unplug phones and close the website.
The brewery, owned by Luke and Catherine Mitchell, also produces beers with similarly provocative names, such as Kim Jong Ale and Putin Porter. “They’re all tongue-in-cheek names – a nicer outlook on some horrible dictators,” explained Luke Mitchell.
A photo of the Osama Bin Lager, named after the former al-Qaeda leader who died in 2011, has garnered millions of views online. The sudden interest has left the Mitchells inundated with notifications.
“We’ve woken up the last couple of mornings with thousands and thousands and thousands of notifications,” said Mr. Mitchell. “It’s been crazy,” added Mrs. Mitchell. “The phone just hasn’t stopped for the last 48 hours.”
Despite the controversial names, the Mitchells reported positive feedback. “Everyone laughs when they see the names on the bar,” Mr. Mitchell noted. “As far as I’m aware, no one’s been offended, but I’m sure there is someone out there,” he added.
“I think there’s always a risk of somebody being offended,” Mrs. Mitchell acknowledged.
In a charitable gesture, the brewery donates £10 from each barrel of Osama Bin Lager to a charity supporting victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
