Ireland: Brian Cowen - the first finance minister in the world to have a beer named after him

Brian Cowen may be the first finance minister in the world to have a beer named after him after he supported changes that would favour smaller brewers, RTE Business posted on May 12. "Brian's Brew" - created by the Irish Craft Brewers' Guild - was made for the minister after he promised tax changes to give smaller brewers a boost.

The guild did not say what kind of beer would be, but the minister is believed to drink stout.

Cowen has offered tax breaks to microbreweries - small operations producing hand-crafted drinks - to encourage investment, lift employment and spur competition.

The Irish Craft Brewers' Guild said the measure could generate �8-�12m in Exchequer returns and create 1,200 jobs.