This is not what we usually post but my son sent this via email. See the story here at Fox News. The New York Times wrote about it, too.
Here is the blurb about the label on The Lost Abbey Web site:
The Story on the Label
Whether you’re a wonder healer, a caller of spirits or a lover of black magic, they will find you. And on that day, they will boil your blood, singe your skin and make a point to burn your soul to the ground. From that lonely stake, you’ll be left to contemplate your life of spell casting, obscure texts and a world operated between the shadows of night and day.
Whether you’re a wonder healer, a caller of spirits or a lover of black magic, they will find you. And on that day, they will boil your blood, singe your skin and make a point to burn your soul to the ground. From that lonely stake, you’ll be left to contemplate your life of spell casting, obscure texts and a world operated between the shadows of night and day.
Convicted of a dark art, the crowd will gather to watch as they raze your earthen existence. An intolerable pain is the cross you’ll bear that day as you are removed from this righteous world. No one will summon the courage to save you in fear of their life. It sucks. But such is the life of a witch. In honor of your fleeting existence, we brewed Witch’s Wit. A light and refreshing wheat beer, it’s exactly the sort of thing you might expect to find being passed around the center of town on witch burning day. Say hello to the Prince of Darkness for us.
About the Label Art
From Tomme:
When I imagined this beer, I thought of two perspectives that would make for the best story. The first story could have been told from the Point of View of our Witch (or Heroine depending on the story). Ultimately, I think I like not knowing her story is better. How she got there is a big part of the mystery.I cannot think why anyone would believe that to put artwork of someone burning at the stake would be a good idea. It is offensive as well as creepy. Maybe they could put a picture of someone on the rack? Or going into the iron maiden?
I became more fixated on the guilt of the crowd. There would surely have been people (the faceless souls) who could have/ would have wanted to help. There also would have been some righteous people smug with satisfaction knowing another “witch” leaving their world.
The Point of View for this back story label is about that smugness and righteousness in light of a horrific atrocity against mankind. It’s written in a modified 3rd person Omniscient Point of View (partly a member of the crowd and my own voice). I knew that most people wouldn’t spend the time delving into the mystery of the piece I wrote but at the same time, I wanted a voice of reason (or counter reason) to be present for this beer. Specifically, we knew this to be a thought provoking original art piece.
8 comments:
Very bad taste indeed. Both the packaging and probably the beer too.
Yes - and the makers got a LOT of complaints. Which is a good thing. No matter what the intention, I don't think it's a good idea to diminish the horror of this by putting it on a beer label, especially since executing witches (real and supposed) is still going on in the world today.
I heard about this. Apparently they are going to consider changing the label.
They might as well use a bottle label with Concentration Camp victims burning up. Absolutely disgusting and they can try to appease and excuse all they want, but Karma's a bitch and the Goddess will definitely get back at them!
I sent my own letter off to this company. Can you believe there are people that think we have over-reacted? An illustration of a woman being burned, what ever one's spiritual belief, is just inappropriate. And while supposedly they were going to change the label, that's not certain now.
2010 and a photo of a woman being burned alive - and we should all just keep our mouths shut?? Where do these people come from?
Z Budapest wants to hex them, I've heard. That caused quite a ruckus. Ah... too bad!
XO
Very peculiar. The world isn't exactly lacking for choices when it comes to beer, so I guess they decided to market their beer in such a "thought provoking" way that they might get some coverage due to the shock factor. Any publicity is good publicity, right?
The blurb on the label, and the comment explaining it are quite creepy. Not in the sense that they are really condoning witch-burning or any such thing, just in the fact that they are prepared to use atrocities as a tool to sell beer.
I hadn't heard about this, but it is a bad idea. I hope they do change the label.
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