The company has also agreed to dispose of all the remaining stock.
The Chicago brewing company, Revolution Brewing has apologised for naming a beer after former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.
The draft ale Adams’ Brew was officially launched on 7 March. However, within a week it had already received considerable backlash for its insensitivity towards the Northern Ireland Troubles.
The company said they sought to honour the “president of Sinn Fein, who was instrumental in the development of the Belfast Agreement in the late 1990’s, which brought a cease-fire to Northern Ireland.”
However, Ann Travers, the sister of Mary Travers who was shot dead by the Provisional IRA during 1984 voiced her anger at the time and called for a boycott on the beer.
Speaking to JOE, she called the beer “crass”, saying: “Victims were sadly ignored largely in the Good Friday/Belfast agreement… For many the murder of their loved ones and/or attempted murder on themselves is still justified by Gerry Adams amongst others.
“So while they sit isolated in their homes, waiting for the past to be dealt with properly, they see Mr Adams ‘beatified’ as though responsible for a ‘peace’ which is uneasy.”
The brewing company has since issued an apology and statement on their website, in which they said:
“In 2012, we first brewed a Best Bitter ale at our pub, which we named Adams’ Best in reference to Gerry Adams, and have since brewed it on occasion.
“Choosing a name is part of crafting a new beer and provides the opportunity to inspire, but also to offend.
“Over the last several days, we learned that great attention has been drawn to this beer abroad, with many people taking offense. We hear you and have decided to take it off tap, and dispose of all remaining stock. We sincerely apologize for our actions and will not brew this beer again.”
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