Simpsons’-Sanctioned Duff Beer Headed for South America and Europe

A licensed version of Homer Simpsons' lowbrow alcoholic beverage of choice is headed for Chile, with other South American and European markets to follow. The Wall Street Journal reports 21st Century Fox has developed an official version of Duff Beer, for distribution in Chile where unauthorized versions of the novelty canned brew apparently floweth like, well, beer. Fox has been fighting the Simpsons-infringing drinks for years in places like Australia, Germany, and Colombia, but is now trying another tactic — competing directly with the counterfeits. Jeffrey Godsick, president of Fox's consumer products division explains:

Once you see enough piracy, you are faced with two choices. One is deciding to fight it, and the other is deciding to go out [into the market] with it.

Duff Beer's packaging will mimic the cartoon cans and won't include any overt allusions to The Simpsons. British brewmaster Paul Farnsworth has developed the lager recipe, which Godsick describes it as having "a very good balance of flavor and refreshment to it" with "deep golden" color.

Licensing Duff beer is a controversial move for Fox. The company has gone back and forth on the issue, due to concerns the cartoon-based brand could be construed as marketing to children. Last year, Fox licensed a test-run of the beer in partnership with Woolworths in Australia, only to pull the booze from shelves 10 weeks later after the Alcohol Policy Coalition complained that Duff was "highly appealing to children and young people under the legal drinking age in Australia." Still, Godsick maintains that because "The Simpsons" has been on air from 26 years, its audience has aged and therefor cannot be construed as targeting children.

According to Time, Fox won't confirm if the product will launch in the U.S., but there are still a few ways to get ahold of Springfield's signature brew state-side. In 2013, Duff beer started pouring at select locations Universal theme parks. Universal Studios Hollywood recently revealed a brand new Simpsons-themed environment complete with Moe's, Kwik-E-Mart, and Krusty Burger.