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(Back Forty Beer)

Back Forty Beer's new experimental, mandarin orange infused, imperial black IPA is getting attention.

Big league attention. Terrific. Huge.

"Mandarin Chief" started appearing in Back Forty's footprint in the southeast this month and has already taken off. It's the first in the company's planned selection of experimental beers with bold flavors to be released over the next year.

But there's bold, and then there's presidential. Mandarin Chief has been getting attention as much for its logo, featuring an orange with a "hairstyle" reminiscent of President Donald Trump.

Brad Wilson, Back Forty's director of marketing, said the name has already been the subject of many questions.

"People ask if this is a show of support, or a joke," he said. "My answer is yes. We are thoroughly enjoying being firmly in the middle. As with any really good art, it's up to the beholder."

The name grew out of a brainstorming session among the brewers and staff at Back Forty a few months back.

"We had the beer style already," Wilson said. "We usually have stimuli there for naming sessions - images on a computer, we'd been drinking beers. And there was one name that kept popping up - Trump."

A slip of the tongue, though, may have been responsible for the brand. One person, referring to the commander-in-chief, was heard to say "mandarin chief." Given jokes about Trump's orange-looking skin tone, the name stuck.

"It just flowed from there," Wilson said. "Other beers are 'low energy.' It just made sense."

Mandarin Chief has an 11 percent ABV, higher than some of the brand's other beers. Back Forty's brewers describe it as having a medium body with a citrus aroma and a pine note from the high amount of hops. There's also a slight roasty and chocolate flavor mingled with the mandarin oranges.

The beer also has its logo, which is already on T-shirts.

Back Forty doesn't expect the president has tried its newest creation, as Trump is a known teetotaler.

"We know he's aware of the beer," Wilson said. "And he likes seeing his name and likeness."

Mandarin Orange is available at Back Forty Beer in Gadsden, as well as in retail locations in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Mississippi.