Rockford Brewery Sues Over Use Of Name

  mlive_rockford Rockford Brewing Co. of Rockford, Ill., filed suit in U.S. District Court in Illinois on Jan. 13 against Rockford Brewing Co. of Rockford, Mich. The Illinois brewery is asking to grant the company exclusive rights to the name in connection with restaurant and bar services.  A hearing on the case is scheduled for late February, although the parties are currently negotiating a possible settlement, according to Seth Rivard, co-owner of Rockford Brewing Co. in Michigan.  “They own zero rights to that name,” said Rivard. “We’d been using it two years before they even started.”
  The brewery anchors an ambitious historic redevelopment in the massive 156-year-old, five-story Prairie Street Brewhouse, which includes a banquet space, offices, lofts and a 60-slip marina.  The complex is owned by Lloyd and Diane Koch, who bought it in 2000. .
  In late November, Rivard and his partners in Michigan sent the Illinois brewery a cease-and-desist letter in protection of their trademark. In the letter, Rivard’s attorneys claim the Michigan brewery was using its mark in commerce as early as Jan. 2012 and “possibly much earlier.”  Michigan’s Rockford Brewing Co. formally opened in Dec. 2012, but began selling mug club memberships in 2011.

Chronic Brewing

Colorado has consumers nationwide buzzing over the recreational marijuana law, which made the herb legal Jan. 1. Hemp Ale
 Boulder, Colo.-based West Flanders Brewing, looking to have some fun, recently changed the name of one of its products from Woodshed Smoked Porter to Recreational Smoke. It's an existing beer with a new name, but some brewers have gone a step further to mark the change in their state.

  Washington brewers Redhook Brewery and Hilliard's Beer paired up on a marijuana-themed beer to acclaim the legalization of the drug. The result, released in July, is the aptly titled Joint Effort, an ale brewed with nonpsychoactive hemp.  If the name and ingredients don't get the message across, the tap handle—a bright yellow bong—delivers it loud and clear.  Joint Effort has captured national attention but is distributed only in Washington, as its marijuana-themed labeling doesn't allow it to be sold across state lines.  So consumers shouldn't expect to see Joint Effort in Colorado anytime soon.  Redhook said it has considered a Colorado-themed beer but has no current plans to mark the change in that state.

Upcoming Beer Events

Jan. 11-18 -  Kalamazoo Beer Week  kalamazoobeerweek
Jan. 18 -  Royal Oak Beer Fest  royaloakbeerfest
Feb. 6-16 - Ashley's Belgian Beer Fest  ashleys
Feb. 8 -  Traverse City Microbrew Music Festival  microbrewandmusic
Feb. 14&15 - Brew Ha-Ha (Grand Rapids)  brew-ha-ha
Feb. 17-22 - Grand Rapids Beer Week  grbeerweek
Feb. 21 - Bow-wows and Brews - GR Bow-Wow
Feb. 22 - Winter Beer Fest (GR) - SOLD OUT
Mar. 8 - Southern Winter Beer Fest (Jackson)  jacksoncountyfair
Mar.22 - Grand Pizza and Beer Fest GrandPizzaFest
Mar.24 -Apr.13 entries will be accepted for Siciliano’s Annual Homebrew Competition
Apr.18&19 - Lansing Microbrew and Music Festival  microbrewandmusic
May 3 - The Second Annual Siciliano’s Big Brew at the Calder
May 17 - The Eleventh Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party at Townsend Park.
May 16&17 - World Expo of Beer (Frankenmuth) worldexpoofbeer
June 12-14 - National Homebrewers Conference  ahaconference
July 25&26 - Summer Beer Festival (Ypsilanti) mibeer

HOPPY NEW BEER!!

May this new year bring you good health, happiness, prosperity and great homebrew!