Hops spring eternal

It might not be too far up the list of essential foodstuffs of an occupied people, but there are probably few better ways to console yourself after another day of occupation than with a cold, cold beer – especially one locally made. Taybeh Beer, run by Nadim, Daoud and Madees Khoury, is not just a decent pint, it is the succession of a legacy of beer-making in the region that goes back thousands of years. And, it is the first Palestinian beer, it is identity in a glass. With the economic hardships biting harder than ever in the Occupied Territories, we pop in for a taste.

 

Madees Khoury: And mine after the Oslo treaty. We wanted to invest in the Palestinian economy and as businessmen we found it was a good opportunity to come back from the States and parlay the brewers art, since it was our hobby to brew beer. So I established the Taybeh Brewing Company, along with my father Canaan and my brother David, and invested $1.2 million at a time when there was no certainty that it was going to succeed. It was my commitment and my hope for peace that kept us going.

 

MK: Well, the responsibilities have grown substantially; my father was in charge of the finance and public relations departments, while I was busy with brewing, bottling and packaging. Now I oversee everything! But we made history by brewing the first and only Palestinian beer –opening and operating the company under occupation, with checkpoints, closures, etc. We have to keep that up. 

 

MK: The collapsed economy in Palestine makes it difficult for any business to survive – the current situation must change, no doubt. I the two state solution will encourage more ex-patriots to come back and invest here, but we are determined to overcome any hurdlers along the way in to enhance in the Palestinian economy. But I’m sure the majority of Palestinians will love to toast peace with Taybeh Beer!

 

MK: Palestine does not have its own port or airport, so we have to use the Israeli ones. Using the Israelis ports makes it extremely difficult to import raw materials since security, standards, customs and permits must be obtained from Israel, which makes it very costly. 

 

MK: An educated consumer. It took us a long time to determine our prime prospect since we had to educate drinkers on how to appreciate a good of beer. We do not aim our marketing at everyone who simply has a dollar in his pocket.

 

MK: Some are happy, some are angry, but in marketing no company will satisfy all customers. And Palestinians have been drinking foreign beers, even Israeli beers, for many years. We never had our own beer, so when we first launched our brewery no one believed that we could produce a good beer. And since all foreigners visiting and residing in Palestine drink Taybeh Beer, many Palestinians followed their footsteps. 

 

MK: Having a glass of Taybeh Beer after a long day will definitely change the mood of many Palestinians. So what CNN said is proof that, as Ben Franklin said, “God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

 

MK: Our beer is completely different from what is available in the Palestinian market. It is natural, with no preservatives or additives, and brewed according to the German Purity Law of 1516. That’s something very special in the international market.

 

MK: We sell in Israel, Belgium, London and Japan. And, since Taybeh Beer is brewed in the German style, it is well liked in Germany! We are currently working on marketing the beer in the US and Canada. For now, you can only order online if you live in Palestine or Israel.

 

MK: It is distinctively flavoured, with a clean and crisp taste.

 

MK: Currently we brew three types; Golden, Dark and Amber. We are working on brewing a non-alcoholic brew and hope to launch in the near future.

 

MK: Investing in Palestine’s economy helps our independence. I am encouraging and teaching my children, nephews and nieces to invest their knowledge here once they finish their education. The future for an independent Palestine is in the hands of the next generation. 

 

For the full version of this article, see NOX21.