Move over, shrimp mayonnaise Doritos. Candy maker Jelly Belly has come out with a new beer-flavored jelly bean. No, this is not a story on The Onion.
The company's latest release is meant to emulate the "effervescent, clean, crisp and wheaty taste" of a German Hefeweizen ale ... because obviously.
The new flavor has polarized candy lovers.
Thousands are thrilled by the new flavor, but a number of people are up in arms, saying it will encourage underage drinking or alcoholics relapsing.
"I am so angry and disappointed about this decision," Facebook user Mindy Chemaki wrote. "I have been a big fan of Jelly Belly since I was 13."
"Now you have developed a flavor that that may encourage minors (like I was 20+ years ago or my children today) to develop a substance abuse problem."
Amy Mehalko added on a similar note, "It's just so wrong to have this flavor. Very disappointed. Why not just make a cigarette flavor while your at it."
Several people said they would be boycotting the brand for the new flavor, which is formally called "Draft Beer." But it's actually not new for the company.
Jelly Belly has been developing drink-inspired flavors since the late 1970s, according to Jeff Brown, Jelly Belly's vice president of operations and distribution.
"We started with the Pina Colada and Mai Tai, and now we are very proud to add Draft Beer to that line," Brown said in a video ad for the new flavor.
The Mai Tai flavor debuted in 1977, and has been followed by drink-inspired flavors like Blackberry Brandy, Strawberry Daiquiri, Piña Colada, Margarita, and Mojito.
Not everyone was as upset about the brand's latest offering.
In fact, Facebook user Ginger Smallin joked, "Those of you complaining that this is going to get kids hooked on beer should be thanking Jelly Belly."
Why? Because "It's certainly an improvement to the margaritas, daiquiris, piña coladas, and mai tais that Jelly Belly got your kids hooked on before."
{ 0 komentar... read them below or add one }
Posting Komentar