‘Osama Bin Lager’ beer sells out after going viral, forces brewery to shut down website

Ben Cost
·2 min read
Bin Laden beer
Bin Laden beer

Is it ale Qaeda?

A UK brewery found itself embroiled in controversy when an Osama Bin Laden-themed beer sold out after going viral online.

“We’ve woken up the last couple of mornings with thousands and thousands and thousands of notifications,” Luke Mitchell, owner of the Mitchell Brewing Co in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, told the BBC of the insane demand.

Cleverly dubbed Osama Bin Lager, the “dark” beer’s label features a cartoonish caricature of the notorious Al Qaeda leader, who was killed by Navy Seals in 2011.

Osama Bin Laden speaks to a selected group of reporters in southern Afghanistan in 1998. AP
Osama Bin Laden speaks to a selected group of reporters in southern Afghanistan in 1998. AP

Photos of the inflammatory ale quickly blew up online, causing it to sell out so quickly that brewery staffers had to unplug their phones and shutter the website due to the “crazy” demand.

“The phone just hasn’t stopped for the last 48 hours,” exclaimed Mr. Mitchell, who runs his eponymous hops hawker with his wife Catherine.

No word as to whether the frenzy had to do with his newfound popularity among sympathizers on TikTok.

The brewery’s other offerings include Putin’s Porter and Kim Jong Ale. Mitchell Brewing Co
The brewery’s other offerings include Putin’s Porter and Kim Jong Ale. Mitchell Brewing Co
“As far as I’m aware, no one’s been offended, but I’m sure there is someone out there,” said brewery owner Luke Mitchell. Mitchell Brewing Co
“As far as I’m aware, no one’s been offended, but I’m sure there is someone out there,” said brewery owner Luke Mitchell. Mitchell Brewing Co
These beers might seem in poor taste, but Mitchell insists that “everyone laughs when they see the names on the bar.” Mitchell Brewing Co
These beers might seem in poor taste, but Mitchell insists that “everyone laughs when they see the names on the bar.” Mitchell Brewing Co

Controversial name notwithstanding, Osama Bin Lager’s proceeds go towards a good cause. For each barrel sold, the brewery donates $13 to charity benefiting victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the BBC reported.

The strange brew is one of several controversially-named brews at the Mitchell Brewing Co, which specializes in giving beers “tongue-in-cheek names” to poke fun at “horrible dictators,” Mitchell describes.

Other offerings include Putin’s Porter and Kim Jong Ale.

These beers might seem in poor taste, but Mitchell insists that “everyone laughs when they see the names on the bar.”

“As far as I’m aware, no one’s been offended, but I’m sure there is someone out there,” he added.

Speaking of risqué food and drink names, a fast food restaurant in Argentina was labeled “offensive” and “disgusting” by Jewish groups after serving items inspired by the Holocaust.

Dishes included “Adolf fries” — fried potatoes doused in bacon and cheddar — and an “Ana Frank burger,” which entailed 3.5 ounces of ground beef with lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayonnaise.