Most of us have more than one favourite smurf in their collection and to celebrate St Patrick’s Day instead of writing about St Patrick’s smurf I have decided to tell you about Beer smurf. First released by Bully in 1974.

When the Beer figurine was first produced by Bully it had no markings or eyebrows. This was quite common back then for early releases by Bully. Then Bully marked it with © Peyo on the beer stein or on the back of the right arm. This must have a popular smurf as you can find this also with three other Bully markings. Some people also refer to the Bully ones as the small mould.

In 1980 when Schleich won the global licence to produce smurfs, just like with the other Bully smurfs Schleich sent the old moulds to Hong Kong and only kept the last Bully version in Germany. In 1981 Wallace Berrie sold the Beer smurf with Hong Kong Bully markings and by 1983 they started selling the Hong Kong Schleich version. 

Schleich continued to sell Beer smurf right through to 1992. The Schleich marked ones are commonly referred to as the large mould. During this period Beer smurf was also sold as a keyring, sockel/pedestal just to name a few. Along with the many fakes!

In 1985 Schleich produced their Jubilee smurfs celebrating their 20th anniversary. Schleich selected the most popular and best selling figurines to be represented in the Jubilee series for each year! Beer smurf was selected for the year 1974.

In Australia Beer Smurf was only sold on the Congratulations orange sockel/pedestal, this was around 1981/82. By looking at the two I have it looks like they used the one with Hong Kong Bully markings. 

Now some feel that Beer smurf is not really appropriate for children. Some feel with his happy disposition and beer stein  full to the brim with frothy beer is encouraging under age drinking. Obviously those people are not familiar with the Smurfing Beer song released in 1982 by Father Abraham on the Father Abraham in Smurfland album. The chorus has the following lyrics:
“Beer Beer Smurfing beer – You don’t get drunk and isn’t dear”

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B