Monster Energy Drinks attack VT Microbrewery

[philrose]

From my understanding this also happened to Avery brewing. Ell(sp) fashion magazine went after them for Ell's Brown. From the story the Avery brewing rep told us it sounded like Avery's lawyer told him "add an e" and call it done. Apparently then one of the newspapers in NY did a story on little company getting bullied by a big company and his distribution took off. From like 5 states to 13 if memory serves.

Hopefully he can make it a boon as well.

Yeah I thin I read that in zymurgy lately. WTF does brown ale have to do with a fashion magazine?? There's even a picture of the dog on the label.

It would be funny to see a bunch of supermodels imbibing imperial pints of avery!

 

[knownikko]

I've sent Monster and Hansens a piece of my mind and I hope everyone else does too.

I wish them all the best. If we can't get enough community support to get Hansens to back down or it turns out they don't have the resources to fight the fight, I think they should change the name to VermonTster and then devote half of their label space to explaining exactly why it's spelled that way.

 

[dap325]

I've sent Monster and Hansens a piece of my mind and I hope everyone else does too.

I wish them all the best. If we can't get enough community support to get Hansens to back down or it turns out they don't have the resources to fight the fight, I think they should change the name to VermonTster and then devote half of their label space to explaining exactly why it's spelled that way.

If the T settles it then I'd hope an explanation would be given. That would be a great story to tell at the least. I'm behind Rock Art 100%... keep making that great beer. Change the name to spite Hansen.. then smear embarassment all over their faces with the new label!

 

[Jester369]

Ridiculous. It looks like Hansen wants Rock Art to reimburse them for legal fees, too! Seems to me that it should be the other way around! If Rock Art were to win the case, Monster should have to pay the damn bill for both sides!

 

[leboeuf]

It really does suck. Any large company will employ attorneys permanently. Their sole job is to look for crap like this and exploit some of the questionable forms of our legal system in attempt for minimal financial gain.
I've always said that people and corporations are inherently evil and it's up to the court system to be above it all. Once again this shows an unfortunate failure of our court system...

 

[forcera]

Just sent them my .02

 

[olllllo]

I suggested Boingboing pick this up. Other people submitting this might also help.

http://www.boingboing.net/suggest.html

 

[Mantis]

add my name to the list of $0.02 sent.

 

[Fingers]

As a Canadian I told them that I'd never heard of the 'Vermonster' but I'll buy that product long before I'll ever buy 'Monster' drinks. Any possible confusion has been quite adequately straightened out.

 

[olllllo]

Looks like this was picked up on Friday by the Consumerist:
http://consumerist.com/5377864/make-monster-pun-with-wine-get-sued-by-makers-of-monster-energy

 

[IrregularPulse]

2 cents also sent. This is ridiculous.I used to dirnk monster when I wanted an energy drink. Not any more.

 

[Mantis]

So I wonder when Hansen Co. is going to order monster.com to cease and desist....

 

[the_bird]

Maybe instead of just *not* buying Monster energy drinks, we ought to seek out to consume a lot of Rock Art beers, hmmm? He's going to have to pay for that lawsuit!

 

[forcera]

Maybe instead of just *not* buying Monster energy drinks, we ought to seek out to consume a lot of Rock Art beers, hmmm? He's going to have to pay for that lawsuit!

I would, but being in Alabama might make that a little be difficult.

 

[olllllo]

We get Rock Art in AZ, but it's kind of a sore spot, since they kind of appropriates the AZ rock art (petroglyph) thing.

Like AZ Iced tea is made in Brooklyn.

We hates teh kokopelli here. Too many fat women with 10 cats wear kokopelli sweatshirts.

 

[Ksosh]

Another company with a 'monster' beer name is Brooklyn Brewery's Monster (barlywine) ale:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45/2231

I emailed Brooklyn Brewery and recommended they help out Rock Art with their lawsuit, as it would be good publicity AND would snip this lawsuit in the bud before Monster comes after BB for their barleywine name. I recommend others send a short email to BB as well (www.brooklynbrewery.com)

 

[IrregularPulse]

If someone is VT wants to send me a case or so of Vermonster, I'll gladly drink it in support

 

[olllllo]

How about an old fashioned smear campaign:

Chief Executive Rodney C. Sacks

 

[alexdagrate]

How about an old fashioned smear campaign:

Chief Executive Rodney C. Sacks

Wow, with a name like Rod Sacks, it makes a smear campaign almost too easy.

I just called Hansens Beverage Company at 1-800-HANSENS and gave them a piece of my mind. They actually have someone answer the phone pretty promptly and are annoyingly friendly. She could tell I was pissed.

I said that people who drink craft beer are passionate and have money. While the market for monster and craft beer may be different, the market for craft beer and hansens' "natural sodas" are pretty close. Emphasize the fact that we are many and we are more educated, more tech savvy, and bigger consumers of high-end beverages than the general population.

 

[cubbies]

I sent them a message. I didn't end it with a hearty f*** you, but I did make them aware that I will not be purchasing their products and intend to spread the word about their business practices.

 

[FreakinA]

Yeah monster just lost my business. Red bull ftw!

 

[Gremlyn]

Sent my 0.02 along as well:

I recently heard about a legal move made by your company that is demanding that Rock Art Brewery rename their long loved and enjoyed Vermonster barley wine. This is an absolutely appalling and deplorable action on the part of Hansen's. I'm sure you've already received a large volume of angry mail over this, and hopefully it shows that your consumers won't stand for this.

I will not be drinking any of your company's products until this law suit is dropped.

For the record, here is a list of companies you may want to go after next, in case you decide proceeding with this lawsuit is a good idea:
- monster.com
- Ben and Jerry's (they make a Vermonster sundae)
- Monster Cables
- All monster truck rallies
- Sesame Street
- Avenue Q

Kind Regards,
Colin Burton

 

[Edcculus]

You better add Disney to that list for Monster's Inc. Someone might get confused and accidentally buy a DVD

So what if the Loch Ness Monster wanted to start marketing a line of natural energy drinks? Man, he would be screwed.

 

[brrman]

I buy monster, well I DID buy monster, a couple times a week... Well, now I don't buy monster. And the money I would have spent on Monster for the year can go to Rock Art for their court fees if they want it... and I emailed Hansen saying just that.

This complaint is in regards to the the 'Cease and Desist'
letter sent from Hansen Beverage to Rock Art Brewing Company in Vermont... This is simply the worst type of corporate strong-arming and greed that I have seen in a while.

I drink Monster at my desk maybe twice a week... Well, that's not going to happen anymore. You make and ok energy drink, but you obviously have a sleazy management team. All the money I would have spent on Monster this year will be sent to Rock Art Brewery as a donation for their court fees... Or maybe I'll just buy a crap load of Vermonster.

Sincerely
Bryan Read

 

[northernlad]

Well, Monster is among the BMC's of energy drink and I don't drink it.
Hansen's is filing an injuction based on their PLAN to produce beer?
So does that mean I can get arrested because I want to smack them in their F%$)&@g mouth?

 

[Bedlam]

Check out what Rock Art has available in their store:

http://www.shop.rockartbrewery.com/product.sc?productId=14&categoryId=1

We should all purchase a deck! Solidarity for the brother!

 

[zodeseeker]

sent along my .02 as well.

 

[Selfsufficient]

sent along my .02 as well.

Me too. Pisses me off everytime I read this kind of thing. I wonder if there is a lawyer out there who shares the passion that could write a copy paste letter to really get their attention. I've already sent my letter, however I'm sure that more people would be motivated if that were available.

 

[Zymurgrafi]

How about an old fashioned smear campaign:

Chief Executive Rodney C. Sacks

Or you can go after the big big shot. The COO of Hansen the parent company.

Give him an email, or a phone call...
http://www.plaxo.com/directory/profile/21475155657/291dd990/Nick/Gagliardi

 

[Mantis]

Wow, saw this on msn this morning.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33282954/?gt1=43001