Half Acre Brewery Changes Heyoka IPA's Name

My biggest take away from this whole thing was that I came away with a very good impression of the folks at Half Acre...I thought their public response was pretty classy.

 

Damn now I wish I saved an empty can of this

 

This is ridiculous. The Gandhi Bot thing was so stupid, especially all the Indians who reacted to it on the facebook page. Breweries should take a stand and not give in to threats, etc.

 

It is a sacred word in the Lakota language and they find it the commercial use of the term offensive. Associating the word with alcohol, especially considering the issues with alcohol on many of the Lakota reservations make it especially offensive. they had the same issues with Crazy Horse beer who the Lakota considered a spiritual and tribal leader. This site is about respecting beer and the resolution that the brewery and the Lakota came to on this issue demonstrates the proper way to respect beer, the brewery and the Lakota.

Tókhi wániphika ní!

 

Why? Why should they take a stand? Its just the name of a beer, Whereas its the namesake of a beloved figure in their culture.

 

Having been on the Pine Ridge reservation and also White Clay, Nebraska. No trolling here. Just trying to provide some context as to why else it might not be a good idea to be using Heyoka for the name.

 

It's not meant as an insult. NEBCO made a huge effort to get approval from Gandhi's family so something like this wouldn't happen. They didn't need to because the US believes in freedom of speech/expression, but they did because of how important Gandhi is to a lot of people.

EDIT: Also Yob.

 

I don't think it was an insult it's just a matter of respect to a group of people. And just because we live in the US and we have freedom of speech does not mean that people can't or won't get offended by something. If a brewery were to name a beer ******'s revenge it would definitely offend a lot of people even though it's "legal" cause we are free. Shouldn't we use that freedom to keep people happy around the rest of the world and here at home?

PS: Yob rules! Long live doom metal!!

 

Plus I like the name Senita

 

I've petitioned Half Acre to change the name of their Daisy Cutter Pale Ale. The "Daisy Cutter" bomb has killed thousands of innocent Vietnamese and Iraqi men, women and children. If they choose to remain consistent with the sensitivities of other cultures, then they'll change that name too.

 

FT: 1 can of Heyoka ISO: CBS, Westy 12, Double Sunshine

 

Totally this - I mean, either you go all the way and change all offensive names, or you don't. The change they are making feels very selective. I personally am not offended by much, and don't care what you call a beer, but if you are going to adhere to some set of PC principles, naming a beer after a weapon of mass destruction is pretty out there.

 

Idk I think it's a bit different than that. I think most people are in agreement that ****** was a horrible person, just as most people are in agreement that Gandhi was too. If anything, the beer is paying homage to him.

 

While I also am an advocate of less people being offended by less things, it sounds like this is specifically in response to the way the word Heyoka has been used, so it seems like a legitimate reason. I also have to remind myself from time to time that while I tend not to care too much about things like this, there probably is a certain amount of "privilege" involved in my response (being a white male in the US), so while I wouldn't react similarly to jokes about my heritage or whatever, I also don't come from the same type of embattled background (although I'm mostly Irish, which ironically was at one point was a very embattled nationality here. But certainly no longer.).

Either way, nice job by one of my favorite breweries in responding to this quickly and without controversy!

 

As stated previously it's just a name, the beer will remain the same. I think this is a good thing; instead of court action that just wastes money and time for everyone. It shows some respect for a nation and culture most of do not understand.
To me it's not about people just crying and being offended about a "word" it's obviously much more than just a word to the Lakota; as is their whole language.
I say kudos to Half Acre.

 

did you just liken Ghandi to ******??

unless i'm mistaken, i thought he was basically the most peaceful dude ever?

 

I'm not even going to comment on this thread as I will probably offend somebody, somewhere...

 

Let's not worry about this

 

Holy shit I didn't mean that at all hahaha. I meant that people are in agreement that Gandhi was a great man. Complete opposite of ******.

 

I figured as much, just messing with you. It was too good an opportunity, to not say something.