Every-flavor jelly beans is no longer just a thing from Harry Potter. Candy maker Jelly Belly has actually come out with a new beer-flavored jelly bean.
The new product is meant to emulate the “effervescent, clean, crispy, and wheaty taste” of a German ale.
The new flavor is raising debate among many candy overs. Some are thrilled by the new flavor, but others say 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 you’re at it.”
Several people said they would boycott the brand for this new flavor, which is formally called “Draft Beer.”
Drink-inspired flavors are nothing new for the company, though. It has been developing such 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 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. It’s certainly an improvement to the margaritas, daiquiris, piña coladas, and mai tais that Jelly Belly got your kids hooked on before.”
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