Brewers, especially new brewers, face the issue of whether to self distribute their product or rely on a third party beer distributor. Luckily enough, most states give you the right to choose. In Minnesota, for example, you can be licensed to self distribute instead of partnering with a distributor, up to a certain brewing and […]
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Since its founding, Amazon has been magically presenting you with almost any product you desire at the click of a button. Amazon has continued to make shopping online easier with the introduction of Amazon Prime, offering free two day shipping for an annual fee, which includes no minimum order size and millions of eligible items. […]
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Zoning laws, city ordinances, zoning codes….are you lost yet? Zoning laws are long and confusing, but they determine who can build what in different parts of the state. So all we ultimately care about is, where can we brew our beer, ferment our wine, and distill our spirits? Before you can begin brewing the gorgeous […]
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Few things beat a good summer day out on a brewery patio with a crisp beer and your dog at your side. Unfortunately, the Hoppy Lawyers live in Minneapolis, where hanging out outdoors for portions of the year can result in some nasty frostbite and currently, our furry family members are not legally allowed inside […]
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A number of alcoholic beverage industry members have taken a strong stance against the legalization of marijuana. A beer distributor political action committee (PAC), for example, gave $25,000 to a group in Massachusetts that was opposing the ballot measure to legalize marijuana. Some larger breweries, including Boston Beer Company (producer of Sam Adams beers) have […]
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We Minnesotans like our beer. Specifically, we like our craft beer. Our local craft beer. The Beer Dabbler at the annual Winter Carnival is now the largest craft beer festival in the Midwest, and Surly Darkness Day has become a sort of dark holiday for self-proclaimed craft beer nerds looking to score something new and […]
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Some of you may be aware that there is an ongoing lawsuit between two Minneapolis breweries about a trademark dispute – Smokehouse Brewpub, LLC v. Lucid Brewing LLC. An oversimplified breakdown of the facts at issue looks like this: Smokehouse Brewpub, LLC (Smokehouse) files an application with the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) for NORTHBOUND […]
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On the same day that news about scientists’ first view of the human brain on LSD came to light, we came across an LSD beer-related story. One of our local greats, Indeed Brewing Company, had a label rejected by the Tax and Trade Bureau apparently because it referenced LSD. One of the first, if not […]
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What is cider? Is it only cider if it’s made from apples? What if it’s made from pears? And how is it taxed? Is it taxed as a wine? As champagne? As its own product? And do state statutes refer to cider? If not, do states treat it like a wine? Or do they treat […]
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We saw an article yesterday in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Lawyer-Owned Winery Gets Brewery Startup to Change Name. The title actually sums it up pretty well – a lawyer-owned Oregon-based winery, Bryn Mawr Vineyards, sent a cease and desist letter to startup Minneapolis-based brewery, Bryn Mawr Brewing for infringing on its trademark. The winery […]
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