Cleaning The Draught Lines #2

Spring is on its way, a little earlier than necessary, but not completely unwelcome.  And its arrival means cherry blossom hysteria here in Washington, DC ... and the return of Smuttynose's Hanami Ale.  I picked up a few bottles in a sampler pack for a Super Bowl party and was surprised at how much they've turned up the tart cherry aspects of the beer this year (i.e. while the beer is still chilled).  Last year it seemed like they were angling for the essence of cherry blossoms until it warmed up significantly.  This year's Hanami is giving the kriekbiers a run for their money but doesn't cross into that "cherry juice" zone... add half a point to the previous rating if you find a six-pack this year.

The Anheuser Busch / Budejovicky Budvar battle (previously 1 and 2) turns another page, this time surrounding a strange twist in UK trademark law that allows A-B to the exclusive rights to the name going forward... and in honor of this convoluted turn in the proceedings, the IPKat hosted two competitions to explain the proceedings -- one to summarize the case in under 150 words, the other for haiku about the continuing controversies. 

The big trademark trend these days in the European Union seems to be the "designation of origin" or "geographic indication" filing.  The latest uproar involves the designation BAYERISCHES BIER and its conflict with BAVARIA HOLLAND Beer (courtesy of Class 46 and the IPKat).  Interestingly, Bavaria Brewery was also responsible for the lederhosen / ambush advertising incident at the 2006 World Cup -- picking a fight with Anheuser Busch (the exclusive beer sponsor of the World Cup) during the Netherlands / Ivory Coast match in Stuttgart, in southern Germany... perhaps not the wisest business move in the world.

It's days and scenarios like these two that make me reconsider my decision to leave the wonderful world of trademark law...

InBev has teamed with Krups (shiny kitchenware folks) to bring the BeerTender, -- a mini-keg and counter-top dispenser systemm to the US market.  I salute the idea of enjoying draft beer in the privacy of one's home, but I  can't get on board with the execution... between the skunky export-grade Heineken, the proprietary, single-use mini-keg, and the overpriced distribution at Williams-Sonoma, this puppy seems doomed to me. (Courtesy of BoingBoing Gadgets, Engadget)