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News Around the Republic of Mexico | December 2007 ![](../images/spacer-g.gif) ![](../images/spacer.gif)
Mexican Company Launches Beer in Honor of Unofficial Drug Saint
E. Eduardo Castillo - Associated Press go to original
![](../images/spacer.gif) Mexico City – Jesus Malverde is considered a Mexican Robin Hood and the patron saint of drug lords.
On Wednesday, he got his own beer.
![](../images/spacer.gif) A Mexican brewery in the western city of Guadalajara began selling the Malverde beer in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, long considered one of the country's main drug strongholds.
![](../images/spacer.gif) Malverde is believed to have been a construction or railroad worker who was hanged in 1909 in Culiacan, Sinaloa's capital. He later developed a reputation as someone who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, although the details of his life remain unclear.
![](../images/spacer.gif) Eventually he was adopted as the saint for drug traffickers and a chapel was built in his honor. The Roman Catholic Church does not recognize Malverde.
![](../images/spacer.gif) Minerva Brewery decided to use the late outlaw's name because it wanted a new beer to market in northwest Mexico, marketing director Juan Carlos Banda told The Associated Press.
![](../images/spacer.gif) “We were looking for a character from Mexican folklore, a graphic representation of local culture,” he said.
![](../images/spacer.gif) The brewery said it considered other representatives, like the professional wrestler “El Santo” and “La Llorona,” a woman who, according to legend, appears at night to cry for her children.
![](../images/spacer.gif) “Looking at all the possibilities, we found that Malverde was recognized the most in this section of the country,” Banda said.
![](../images/spacer.gif) The beer features a toned down image of Malverde, without his trademark neckerchief, his gold chain with a bejeweled pistol charm or his gun-motif belt buckle.
![](../images/spacer.gif) Banda said he isn't worried that the beer would be associated with drug trafficking, arguing that Malverde is known more for his support of the poor. | ![](../images/spacer.gif)
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