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Fuller’s buys Sussex craft brewery

Posted in Breweries, News on   

Fuller Smith & Turner — the oldest brewery in London and operator of an international brand — has purchased Dark Star Brewing in Sussex. Terms of the sale were not revealed.

“The deal means we will continue to do what we do, but gives us huge opportunities to brew more one-off small batch beers hand-in-hand with exploring the export market and expanded bottle and can formats,” said Dark Star managing director James Cuthbertson.

This follows Fuller’s acquisition of cider makers Cornish Orchards in 2013 and George Gale & Co. in November 2005. Fuller’s managing director Simon Dodd said the acquisition was part of the same strategy.

He said the company had “been looking at similar opportunities to invest in and work with young, exciting companies that have a similar ethos and commitment to quality as Fuller’s.”

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Stone Brewing sues MillerCoors to defend ‘Stone’ mark

Posted in News on   

Stone Brewing co-founder Greg Koch

Stone Brewing has filed suit in federal court, charging brewing giant MillerCoors with trademark infringement in marketing Keystone Light beer.

MillerCoors revamped Keystone Light packaging last April, emphasizing the word “Stone” on the side of its cans. “Keystone’s new can design overtly copies and infringes the Stone trademark,” Stone stated in the lawsuit. In a social media campaign and in advertising at various websites Keystone is referred to simply as Stone. “Such mass advertising broadcasts the infringing ‘Stone’ name beyond Keystone’s immediate social media audience to the general public at large,” the suit says.

Stone also posted a four-minute video featuring co-founder Greg Koch.

“You can end all of this right here and now by one simple move that reinforces your brand that you’ve built,” Koch said in the video. “Put the ‘Key’ back in ‘Keystone.’ Stop using Stone as a stand-alone word. It’s ours.”

As well as asking for the court to stop MillerCoors from using “Stone” in connection with the sale and distribution of the Keystone beer, Stone Brewing is seeking damages and profits from the sale of the rebranded Keystone products.

“This lawsuit is a clever publicity stunt with a multi-camera, tightly-scripted video featuring Stone’s founder Greg Koch,” Marty Maloney, MillerCoors media relations manager said in a statement. “Since Keystone’s debut in 1989, prior to the founding of Stone Brewing in 1996, our consumers have commonly used ‘Stone’ to refer to the Keystone brand and we will let the facts speak for themselves in the legal process.”