Why Brooklyn Local 1 looks different
If you’ve recently bought a bottle of Local 1 from Brooklyn Brewery you might have noticed the distinctive rings at the neck — which likely reminded you of Westmalle or New Belgium bottles — are missing.
The New York Times has story about the trademark issues that led to the change. Brooklyn didn’t see any problems until . . .
Until Kim Jordan of New Belgium, an old friend, picked up the phone a few months later.
“Why didn’t you call me before coming out with this bottle?” he recalled her asking. She explained that she had been through protracted negotiations with the monks of Westmalle on the use of a ringed bottle in the United States. The result was the creation of a joint venture whose purpose was to own and control the ringed bottle trademark in this country. While Ms. Jordan was reluctant to sue Mr. Hindy, she told him it was her duty under the partnership to defend the trademark.
So Brooklyn changed the bottle.
