Beer named for Mexican drug saint

Houston Chronicle/AP ^ | Dec. 12, 2007 | E. EDUARDO CASTILLO

[SwinneySwitch]

MEXICO CITY — Jesus Malverde is considered a Mexican Robin Hood and the patron saint of drug lords.

On Wednesday, he got his own beer.

A Mexican brewery in the western city of Guadalajara began selling the Malverde beer in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, long considered one of the country's main drug strongholds.

Malverde is believed to have been a construction or railroad worker who was hanged in 1909 in Culiacan, Sinaloa's capital. He later developed a reputation as someone who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Eventually he was adopted as the saint for drug traffickers and a chapel was built in his honor. The Roman Catholic Church does not recognize Malverde.

Minerva Brewery decided to use the late outlaw's name because it wanted a new beer to market in northwest Mexico, marketing director Juan Carlos Banda said.

"We were looking for a character from Mexican folklore, a graphic representation of local culture," he said.

[SwinneySwitch]

"We were looking for a character from Mexican folklore, a graphic representation of local culture,"

Speedy Gonzales?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Malverde

Bad Green?

Smooth marketing move.

[duckman]

Malverde: English trans ‘Bad Green” beer. Yuck.

[Constitution Day]

Speedy Gonzales?

How about Slowpoke Rodriguez?

[TexGuy]

Malverde ... Bad Green? ... Smooth marketing move.

Not only that but Jesus Bad Green!

[Hegemony Cricket]

Who knew the drug lords had their own patron saint?

Who is the patron saint for the DEA?

[VeniVidiVici]

"We were looking for a character from Mexican folklore, a graphic representation of local culture," he said.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Sounds more like weed.

[theDentist]

Wow. Jesus Juice.

[wideawake]

Who knew the drug lords had their own patron saint?

They don't. This individual has never been beatified, let alone canonized, by the Church.

His "sainthood" is an attempt by drugdealers to ingratiate themselves to the larger community.

Who is the patron saint for the DEA?

St. Michael the Archangel is considered one of the patrons of law enforcement.

St. Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint of recovering addicts.

[Hegemony Cricket]

I’m sure you know I was sort of teasing - but thanks for the info - I learn all kinds of cool things from my FRiends here! :-)

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

You can’t name a teddy bear “Mohammed,” but you can name a beer “Jesus.”

[SwinneySwitch]

Ping!

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.

[archy]

"We were looking for a character from Mexican folklore, a graphic representation of local culture,"

I've got just the feller for 'em:

[archy]

Great minds think alike.

[madison10]

There’s something paradoxical about a drug lord having a patron saint. Excuse me, but that’s just insane, unless of course the “saint” is from the Underworld.

[SwinneySwitch]

Close-up view of Santa Muerte (Saint Death)
south of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

[DaGman]

Slowpoke Rodriguez packs a gun.

[TLI]

Jesus Malverde is considered a Mexican Robin Hood and the patron saint of drug lords.

A Mexican brewery in the western city of Guadalajara began selling Malverde beer in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, long considered one of the country's main drug strongholds.

Malverde is believed to have been a construction or railroad worker who was hanged in 1909 in Culiacan, Sinaloa's capita.l

Golly. What a shining example of those "family values."

A major mexican brewery knows it can make money by selling beer with the name of a major criminal on it. Those "hardworking, family loving" mexicans sure have a great set of priorities, eh?

Well, let's just see how it works here in the Great El Norte.

Mall Gunman Malt Liquor

Bank Robber Brew

Agravated Robbery Ale

Charley Manson Malt Liquor

Son of Sam Suds

Ted Bundy Brewski.

Al Capone Ale

Yep, that really makes me want to grab the keys and burn rubber to the store.