Crazy Mountain Drops Maori Name “Kura Koa” In Favor of “Boohai Red Ale” To Avoid Controversy

The Edwards brewery originally named the ale “Kura Koa,” which translates to “red euphoria” in Maori, the language of indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, said brewery co-owner Kevin Selvy.

But after learning about the intense criticism that caused Fort Collins-based Funkwerks to change the name of its Maori King imperial saison last year, Crazy Mountain scrapped the name even though the label already had been approved and was about to be printed on cans that very week, Selvy said.

The beer was rechristened Boohai Red Ale, which Selvy said is a slang term in New Zealand that roughly translates to “middle of nowhere” and has nothing to do with the Maori.