Upset Hindus Urge Ibosim BrewHouse to Withdraw Shiva-Kali-Ganesha-Hanuman Beers

Upset Hindus have urged Ibosim BrewHouse microbrewery on the island of Ibiza in Spain to apologize and withdraw Shiva, Kali, Ganesha and Hanuman beers; calling these highly inappropriate.

"Shiva Session Black IPA", "Kali Session IPA", "Ganesha Double IPA" and "Hanuman Coffee IPA" beers carry the picture of respective Hindu deity. These are the products of Ibosim BrewHouse, which calls itself “The new temple of craft beer in Ibiza”.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that Lord Shiva, goddess Kali, Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman were highly revered in Hinduism and they were meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be used in selling beer for mercantile greed. Moreover, linking these deities with an alcoholic beverage was very disrespectful, Zed added.

Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed noted.

Claimed to be first microbrewery on the island of Ibiza, Ibosim BrewHouse produces various craft beers and claims "100% natural ingredients, without additives, unfiltered and natural carbonation". Oscar Enguita and Carlos Guerrero are reportedly the founders.

Ibiza in autonomous Balearic Islands province of Spain, whose history goes back to 654 BCE, is an island in the Mediterranean Sea off the east coast of Spain. The port in Ibiza Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

UPDATE 30 Nov 2016:

Ibosim BrewHouse microbrewery on the island of Ibiza in Spain has apologized for their Hindu deities—Shiva, Kali, Ganesha and Hanuman—beers.

In an email on November 29 to Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who spearheaded the protest, Ibiza Beer Company (Ibosim Craft Beers), wrote: In any case were our intentions to offend in any way any religious sensitivities and, if that has been the case, we offer our most sincere apologies.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, welcomed the brewery’s apology, calling it a step in the positive direction.

Rajan Zed urged that in the same spirit, the brewery should immediately withdraw from their website the pictures of beers carrying images of Hindu deities Shiva, Kali, Ganesha and Hanuman; which was highly inappropriate.

Zed had said that inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.

Rajan Zed had indicated that Lord Shiva, goddess Kali, Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman were highly revered in Hinduism and they were meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be used in selling beer for mercantile greed. Moreover, linking these deities with an alcoholic beverage was very disrespectful, Zed added.

Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Zed had noted.

"Shiva Session Black IPA", "Kali Session IPA", "Ganesha Double IPA" and "Hanuman Coffee IPA" beers carrying the picture of respective Hindu deity were still visible on the website on November 30 morning of Ibosim BrewHouse, which calls itself “The new temple of craft beer in Ibiza”.

Claimed to be first microbrewery on the island of Ibiza, Ibosim BrewHouse produces various craft beers and claims "100% natural ingredients, without additives, unfiltered and natural carbonation". Oscar Enguita and Carlos Guerrero are reportedly the founders.

Ibiza in autonomous Balearic Islands province of Spain, whose history goes back to 654 BCE, is an island in the Mediterranean Sea off the east coast of Spain. The port in Ibiza Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.