Bethlehem Brew Works
Are Fegleys And Troegs Going To Play Nice?
Maybe the elves won’t be doing battle this Christmas. About 6 months ago, Troeg’s Brewing (Harrisburg, PA) has filed a cease & desist order against Bethlehem Brew Works (Bethlehem, PA), makers of Fegley’s beers. Troeg’s Mad Elf — a Belgian strong dark ale with cherries. Arrives at Christmas time each year. Bethlehem makes Rude Elf’s Reserve, a Belgian strong dark ale with spices. Both beers contain images of an elf, with a close color scheme.
Not the first time Bethlehem has delt with Elf lawsuits though. (Lawsuits are anything but small! HA!) Rude Elf’s Reserve has been known by another name — Rudolph’s Reserve, but changed it after a similar lawsuit in 2004. Fegley’s owns a trademark on the Rude Elf’s Reserve beer name.
Troeg’s believes that due to Mad Elf’s existence — they own the term elf when referenced to ales & lagers.
Fast forward to this week. This surfaces. The Peaceful Elf. “An All-American Collaboration Ale” Now with no other information available, one could only assume the breweries are working towards playing nice.
Speculation.
correction: Fegley’s owns a trademark, not a patent.
