Beer News

New Holland, Alpine Slinging Pumpkins over “Ichabod”

New Holland Brewing Company and Alpine Beer Company have become embattled in a bitter trademark dispute over use of the name “Ichabod” for their Pumpkin ales.

The foundation for drama was laid soon after Alpine earned national recognition for their Ichabod Pumpkin at the 2008 World Beer Cup. Weeks after the WBC, New Holland filed a trademark application for their Ichabod. Now, over three years later, New Holland has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Alpine to stop using the name “Ichabod.”

Alpine founder Pat McIlhenney publicly stated his resentment via a recent customer newsletter, declaring, “New Holland Brewing Company sent me a ‘Cease and Desist’ letter from their lawyer for ‘Ichabod Ale.’ It seems they Trademarked the name right after we won the World Beer Cup medal for it in 2008. Let’s all let them know what we think of their dirty move.”

New Holland later explained their side of the situation in an official statement, noting, “New Holland Brewing Company has been brewing Ichabod Pumpkin Ale since 1997 and currently distributes the brand across thirteen states. Trademark law dictates that the holder of a mark has the responsibility to protect their registered marks, or they become weakened, and perhaps nullified. This protection can take many forms, assuming both parties in a dispute are willing to negotiate towards a solution. In this case, Alpine Beer Company refused all initial overtures for conversation or negotiation regarding their use of our mark. Having our requests ignored, New Holland had no choice but to issue a cease and desist letter regarding Ichabod.”

Both sides claim they want to work out a solution, but progress appears to be slow going.

Miller-Coors Buys Minority Stake in Terrapin Brewing

On October 17th, Terrapin Beer Company of Athens, Ga., sold a minority stake of “less than 25%” of its company to Tenth & Blake, Miller-Coors’ craft beer division. This stake was converted from a loan Terrapin had previously taken from Tenth & Blake, and the conversion will greatly reduce the brewery’s level of debt.

Terrapin co-founder John Cochran tells BA, “So what does this mean? In short, it means that Terrapin will now have the capital to expand our brewing capacity and keep up with the amazing demand for our beers in the marketplace. Other than that, nothing changes. In fact, we are more Terrapin than ever, and this loan conversion will allow us to become more crafty, not less.”

Thanks to this debt reduction, Terrapin will more easily be able to secure additional funding from banks, letting them keep up with demand. The brewery hopes to be able to spend up to $4.5 million to expand their facilities and double their brewing capacity to up to 45,000 barrels per year.

Cochran continues, “We remain classified as small, independent and traditional by the Brewers Association. We are not changing any of our current distribution channels, no matter their affiliation. We will continue to make the beers we want to make, when we want to make them, and sell them when, how and where we want to.”

In addition to boosting production, Terrapin plans to add a barrel-aging room and enhance their public brewery tours.

Pakistan May Begin Exporting Beer

Ninety-seven percent of Pakistan’s population subscribes to the Muslim faith, and their holy law prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately for Pakistani brewers, a blockade on the export of alcoholic beverages has existed since 1977. This means breweries were only permitted to sell inside the country, to the non-Muslim 3 percent not bound by the same religious rules (namely foreigners, Christians and Hindus).

This next month may bring about a change— a ruling has reportedly been made by Pakistan’s Economic Committee on Trade that would overturn the ban on exporting alcoholic beverages and spirits, after final approval by the Pakistani prime minister.

Murree Brewery is poised to begin selling their beer to other nations throughout Asia and Europe once the ban is officially lifted. Their website states, “Today Murree Brewery has expanded its horizons beyond Pakistan with agreements finalized with [a] brewery in [the] Czech Republic. In the near future our beer will be available … first in Scandinavia and subsequently in the rest of Europe. With the new brewing deals in place and supply assured, Murree Brewery is now looking for potential distributors for our high-quality beers throughout Europe and the rest of the world.”

Wells & Young’s acquires McEwan’s & Younger’s brands from Heineken UK

On October 4th, Wells & Young’s, the largest independent family-owned brewery in the United Kingdom, formally acquired Scottish beer brands McEwan’s and Younger’s from Heineken UK for an unidentified amount. The addition of these brands boosts the ranks of Wells & Young’s to among the top three breweries in the UK.

Wells & Young’s managing director, Nigel McNally, states via press release, “This is a significant and major acquisition, and secures the future for the much loved McEwan’s and Younger’s brands. We are hugely excited about these fantastic Scottish ales joining our stable, they bring a wealth of opportunities to our business which we will realise through brand investment, innovation and exploiting export potential.”

McNally continues, “We are committed to maintaining the rich Scottish heritage of the brands. We will continue brewing McEwan’s draught ales at the historic Caledonian Brewery and we will set up a small Scottish office to support the brands and our range of beers.”

Additionally, Wells & Young’s also purchased the remaining 17 percent of the historic British beer brand Courage. With this sale, Courage is now entirely owned by Wells & Young’s, who have already begun resurrecting the brand’s legacy by brewing its Russian Imperial Stout—a brew that hadn’t been seen since 1982.

Smuttynose Expansion Plans Moving Forward Once More

After eight long years, Smuttynose Brewery’s quest for a new home is nearing its conclusion. The finished site is slated to house a 60,000-barrel brewery, as well as a full restaurant and brewpub.

The Portsmouth, N.H., brewery began searching back in 2004 for a location that would not only provide much-needed freedom to grow, but would also suit the brewery’s character. They took their time, carefully evaluating multiple potential sites throughout the region before deciding to purchase farmland in nearby Hampton in 2008.

Unfortunately, the farm site wasn’t quite move-in ready and the renovation won’t be cheap. The daunting task of moving an old, existing farmhouse and barn across the property must take place before full construction can begin in spring 2012. There are also numerous infrastructure improvements that need to be completed in order for the finished brewery to obtain LEED (or “green building”) certification, including adding a brand new waste treatment system. Once the project draws to a close in 2013, it will have cost an estimated $16 million, Smuttynose projects.

The last hurdle to clear is a financial one. Banks have been unwilling to lend them the total estimated cost, but Smuttynose has worked diligently to find ways to fund the remainder of the project themselves.

Smuttynose minister of propaganda JT Thompson tells BA, “We’re really trying to do something special with this project. We could’ve just moved years ago if we would’ve been satisfied with a generic corrugated metal box, but that’s not who we are.” Thompson adds, “Visitors to our current brewery have asked us, ‘Is this really your only place?’ It will be nice to move into a big, new building.” ■