Upset Hindu Group Asks Buffalo Grove Brewer To Change Beer Name

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Upset Hindus are calling for a Buffalo Grove brewery to change the name of one of its "core" beers. A representative of the Universal Society of Hinduism told Patch that the Prairie Krafts Brewing Company's Trishul Pale Ale is "highly inappropriate." The group is asking the brewery to rename the beer and apologize.

Trishul, or trishula, is a divine symbol commonly used as one of the principal symbols in Hinduism. Devotees frequently set up temples and home shrines with trishul.

"Inappropriate usage of sacred Hindu symbols or concepts or deities or icons for commercial or other agenda is not okay as it hurts the devotees," Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, said.

The headquarters and taproom of Prairie Krafts Brewing Company is located at 1310 Busch Parkway in Buffalo Grove. The company celebrated its fourth anniversary in April, according to its website.

Trishul Pale Ale is described as "a well-balanced and solid Pale Ale brewed with a little bit of oats and light caramel malts for depth of flavor. This beer was made with 3 hops, including a light dry hop." The alcohol by volume is 5.6 percent.

Patch has reached out to Prairie Krafts Brewing Company for comment.

In a Saturday social media post on Facebook, Mannish "Manny" Khosla, who is listed as one of the founders and owners of the company, announced the brewery was closing for the remainder of August and reopening under the management of Liquid Love Brewing.

"Hello Folks, change is inevitable in every walk of life. And the best we can do is adapt to changes. Prairie Krafts is no different. After obtaining industry expert advice we finally decided to bring a change," Khosla said in the post. "So I’m handing over the reigns to some of the best in the brewing industry to lead while I sit on the other side and enjoy the expert creations and mingle with my friends and patrons who have supported Prairie Krafts all these years."

Khosla also said that his company's flagship beers will be available at local stores.

Zed, who describes himself as a statesman from Nevada, oversaw the first official offering of a Hindu prayer at the U.S. Senate in 2007.

He said he has reached out to Prairie Krafts Brewing Company in writing regarding the beer, but hasn't heard back.

"Breweries should not be in the business of religious appropriation, sacrilege, and ridiculing entire communities," Zed said. "It was deeply trivializing of divine Hindu symbol to be displayed on a beer can."