Episode 234: Beer Trademarks

Jimmy Carbone kicks off another episode of Beer Sessions Radio by talking Queens-based brewing, the Great American Beer Festival, and beer trademarks! Tony Forder from Ale Street News talks about the events of this year’s GABF. Basil Lee and Kevin Stafford from Queens’ Finback Brewery talk about their self-distribution model, and how their brewery’s name had to change due copyright law. Brendan Palfreyman, a trademark lawyer, joins the discussion to lend his advice to brewers having similiar problems to Basil and Kevin. Learn about Finback’s roots in homebrewing, and how farm brewery licensing has been benefiting brewers upstate. Has beer nomenclature gotten out of control? Find out on this week’s edition of Beer Sessions Radio! This program has been brought to you by GreatBrewers.com.

“What’s the most important piece of equipment that a brewery can have? …I’d say it’s the trademark because if something happens… people need to be able to recognize your beer on the tap.” [8:55]

“In the craft beer world, if a brewer has a problem with another, they call each other. And that’s what I recommend.” [28:45]

— Brendan Palfreyman on Beer Sessions Radio