Brewery names beer for drunk driving victim.

Associated Press--It's called "Shabadoo" microbrew.

The brew, a mix of ale and stout known as a black and tan, was created by a local Massachusetts brewer as a memorial to a beer lover named Joe Rizzuti. Rizzuti died last year in what police have called a drunken driving accident.

Despite the irony, Rizzuti's friends and family think "Shabadoo" is a fitting memorial. "Joe would have gotten the biggest kick out of this and absolutely loved it," said Rizzuti's mother, Sandy Poirier.

The ale was created by the Berkshire Brewing Co. with her blessing.

Despite the suspected role of alcohol in the young chef's death, those who loved Rizzuti say they firmly support the decision to put his mug and nickname on the 28-ounce microbrew.

The memorial drink, uncorked in late November, is available in western Massachusetts liquor stores for about $3 per bottle. Ten percent of sales are donated to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Rizzuti, of Deerfield, died Jan. 31, 1996 after he was run over in a friend's driveway after drinking at an Amherst bar.

Police believe that Paul Distasi, who had been drinking with Rizzuti, ran over his friend while trying to ascend his icy driveway. Distasi is scheduled for trial in Hampshire Superior Court in May on charges of vehicular homicide.

"Joe was a responsible drinker," Poirier said. "He drank and was drunk the night of the accident. But he handed his keys over and he followed the rules. Unfortunately, the people he was with did not."

Poirier hopes that "Shabadoo" brew--a joke nickname from an episode of Rizzuti's favorite television show "The Simpsons"--will help keep her son's spirit alive.

Louis Rocher, manager of Fitzwilly's restaurant and bar in Northampton where Rizzuti once worked, said the idea of a memorial ale struck him as questionable at first.

"That's the touchy part, it does send a weird message. But Joe would have said that was nonsense, he loved beer," Rocher said.

Rizzuti enjoyed beer so much, in fact, he would volunteer at the Berkshire Brewing Co. in exchange for samples of small-batch brews.

For that reason, even members of groups opposed to drunken driving aren't critical of the decision to market an alcoholic product in Rizzuti's memory.

"Personally, I feel you always respect the family's wishes," said Hannelore Simard, who lost a daughter in a drunken driving accident and now serves as executive director of the Pioneer Valley chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. "I don't see anything wrong with it I am not anti-alcohol. I am anti-drinking and driving."

Poirier said she has received only positive feedback about her decision to sanction the brew, and said the drink has already raised more than $700 to fight hunger.

"The ironic thing is that Joe always wanted to be famous," Poirier said. "This way he will reach everyone."