Brewery renames White Face beer after customers said it sounded ‘racist’
Name was taken from a medieval poem called The Names Of The Hare
A brewery has changed the name of its hare-inspired White Face beer after customers said it sounded a “bit racist”.
North Norfolk-based Moon Gazer Ale took the names of several of its beers, including White Face, from a medieval poem called The Names Of The Hare.
But as it began to sell its drinks further afield, some people did not know of the name’s origins.
In a statement on the brewery’s website, owner David Holliday said this sometimes gave rise to the “feeling that there was an undercurrent of discriminatory language”.
Beer should do one simple thing – that is to bring pleasure – so if the beer, or more accurately its name was moving away from that, however small, for us, it was time for a change
“This is, of course, a complete misunderstanding,” he said.
“But the fact that it created that impression was a genuine concern to us.
“To add to this, Mrs Moon Gazer and I were recently sitting in a pub beer garden and overheard a man showing his pint to his beer buddy and proclaiming, ‘Now this beer is totally lush’.
“There was a short pause before he continued, ‘Name’s a bit racist, though’.
“So, again this made us stop and reflect.
“Beer should do one simple thing – that is to bring pleasure – so if the beer, or more accurately its name was moving away from that, however small, for us, it was time for a change.”
The brewery has renamed White Face as Cheeky Jack.
“Its name is a play on the American name for a hare – jack rabbit,” said Mr Holliday.