C&D vs. Brewer's Art

Discussion in 'Beer News' started by RichardMNixon, Mar 27, 2014.

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  1. RichardMNixon

    RichardMNixon Maven (1,431) Jun 24, 2012 Pennsylvania

    Providence likes this.
  2. ChuckHardslab

    ChuckHardslab Maven (1,251) Jan 25, 2012 Texas

    After looking at the can I can see where they probably brought it on themselves. I'm not saying I think it's particularly right, but in todays over-lawyered world, not at all surprised.
     
  3. Sponan

    Sponan Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2008 Tennessee

    Pretty obvious which "Ozzy" Brewer's Art is referencing. Not surprising they were sued.
     
  4. KS1297

    KS1297 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Wisconsin

    ozzy would not approve
     
  5. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've always wondered about this one. What were they thinking?
     
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  6. Ranbot

    Ranbot Pooh-Bah (2,463) Nov 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    really? I think Ozzy [or whoever has power-of-attorney to manage his assets] would approve of almost anything as long as he got a cut of the profits.
     
  7. Clint_Yoho

    Clint_Yoho Crusader (434) Jan 27, 2014 Maryland

    I'm just suprised it took this long.
     
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  8. KS1297

    KS1297 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Wisconsin

    Ozzy probably doesn't even know that brewer's art exists.
     
  9. Joshjv

    Joshjv Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2013 Michigan

    I'm not sure that Ozzy even knows if Ozzy still exists... but the lawyers know all.....
     
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  10. ONovoMexicano

    ONovoMexicano Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2012 New Mexico

    Well, for one thing, they probably figured getting his attention, a C&D, and some media coverage would generate publicity and get the brewery's name out there. I'd never heard of them until this post, so....
     
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  11. KS1297

    KS1297 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Wisconsin

    Lol i was thinking the same.

    if Descartes was right, then ozzy was gone a long time ago.
     
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  12. RichardMNixon

    RichardMNixon Maven (1,431) Jun 24, 2012 Pennsylvania

    I don't think they were aiming for notoriety in New Mexico... They've been a small brewpub in Baltimore for nearly 20 years, and judging from this site, they've been selling Ozzy for at least 11 of those years (though I'm guessing it's among the first they ever brewed).
    [​IMG]
    First floor and the basement/dungeon is the whole establishment. Bottles/cans contracted out to Sly Fox though.
     
  13. ChuckHardslab

    ChuckHardslab Maven (1,251) Jan 25, 2012 Texas

    Philosophical humor... love it. I think I'm going to name one of my next brews 'Potionem Ergo Sum'
     
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  14. sammy806

    sammy806 Pundit (834) Feb 29, 2008 Maryland

    Wish I lived closer to this place. Food is a bit on the frou-frou side and you might need a snack when you get home but have never had a bad meal here and the beer is great. As noted, bottles and cans contracted out to Sly Fox but, I believe, anything served on-site is brewed on-site.
     
  15. PA-Michigander

    PA-Michigander Grand Pooh-Bah (3,372) Nov 10, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I wondered why there was a handful of Brewer's Art beer cans laying around the Sly Fox brewery. Thanks for the info.
     
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  16. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I see it a bit differently. Over the years, I'm sure they must have been able to sell a good amount of beer based on the packaging/name alone... the same way that Robinson's Trooper beer has been showing up all over the place. The difference being that Robinson made Trooper with Bruce Dickinson. The OP's link shows a picture of the Ozzy cans, but the beer also comes in large bottles - and on the bottle label the font used looks very much like the font used on Ozzy's albums. In the end, it was probably a good business move, but not a very ethical one. Having said all that, I have happily spent money on some Brewer's Art beers over the last year.
     
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  17. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,191) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I find this odd. This is one of my favorite brews from these guys (with great ambience inside).

    I contacted them years ago about the beer and the name (this is before they canned it) asking about it and they said it was yes in hommage of sorts to him, but why this strikes me as odd is that if I remember that old email correctly he actually had the beer and tried it.

    So this all strikes me as kind of odd. There is no doubt some legal issues with his branding, it does look pretty distinct just wondering why they are bringing this up so late.
     
  18. Knapp85

    Knapp85 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,712) Dec 25, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hopefully they won't discontinue the beer completely, It was surprisingly good the time I had it.
     
  19. RichardMNixon

    RichardMNixon Maven (1,431) Jun 24, 2012 Pennsylvania

    Again, they've been selling Ozzy on tap for years before they bottled it (at least 5 years based on the date added to BA, but I suspect it was one of their first beers brewed, which would put it on tap for 12 years prior to it ever being in a bottle). This style usually has a demonic name, so they named it after the "Prince of Darkness."
    If Ozzy['s business manager] wants it gone then I guess they own that imagery, but it seems odd to accuse Brewer's Art of impropriety here. I can't say I've heard "unethical" applied to a homage before.

    See also: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/85819/

    It's one of their flagships, I'm sure they'll just rename it. Any particularly demonic imagery in Edgar Allen Poe's work?
     
  20. CaptFrothy

    CaptFrothy Pundit (753) Dec 9, 2006 Maryland
    Trader

    Just thought I'd mention that btw, this is a delicious Belgian Strong Pale, one of my favorites.

    If I'm remembering right, they wanted to name the beer similar to some belgians such as Duvel (which mean devil) and Lucifer, so with Ozzies satanic association, they decided to name the beer Ozzy.
     
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