(New Glarus, WI) – Ever wondered why New Glarus Brewing changed the name of the Unplugged Series to the Thumbprint Series?
Have a look:
It is always flattering when less imaginative competitors copy our beers, packaging, and/or marketing. I usually accept this as a personal challenge to do something more. When our trademarked Solstice name was infringed on, I regrouped with Dancing Man. When lots of deconstructed 4 and 6 packs showed up I knew I was doing a good job. When another Midwestern brewer released a “Un*******” series. I thought I can do better.
Thumbprint beers are still brewed with the beer enthusiast in mind. Thumbprint beers are brewed in small batches that are intended to be available for one time only. However, popular demand has caused some styles to return. This is my own thumbprint, to let everyone know this is a real New Glarus handcrafted beer!
That passage actually went up on the brewery website this past spring but was just unearthed by a Beer Advocate member yesterday.
The New Glarus Unplugged Series dates back many years. The company filed a trademark application for ‘Unplugged’ back in 2005 but abandoned the application after the USPTO suspended it due to likely confusion with Grolsch’s ‘Unplug’ trademark.
The bit about ‘Un*******’ appears to be a clear call-out of Summit Brewing, based in Minnesota. Summit launched the ‘Unchained’ Series in 2009.
So, “Unchained” is the same as “Unplugged”? In what world? Maybe 7-Up should sue, since they are the “Uncola”.
The recent tabloid nature of Beernews is very unbecoming. Trying to create controversy to drive hits to your website?
Old news.
Dan has always been out there…as for Solstice there are at least 25 beers with Solstice in their names according to the beerme.com database which is the most comprehensive beer database…many of these are older than Solstice Wheat…and his comment on deconstructed 4 or 6 packs if he thinks he came up with this idea is ludicrous….and I don’t care what any brewer wants to call their own special series unplugged, unchained, thumbprint, small batch brewer’s choice this is not a unique idea get over yourself!!!
It may indeed be old but point me to a source that linked to this before yesterday. Otherwise, it’s new news.
Hi Pete,
The purpose of the site is to inform and entertain people that enjoy reading about the beer industry. Scuttlebutt is part of the beer industry and will continue to receive airplay here as it always has. It achieves both of the aforementioned objectives. Just as stories of breweries holding hands, collaborating, etc. will continue to receive airplay all the same.
Cheers,
Adam
I saw that a little while ago – it struck me as strange also. Summit’s unchained has different objectives – not only are they generally cheaper beers, they’re marketed differently. Six packs vs NG’s 4 packs, brewer specific recipes – not to mention Summit putting Gold Sovereign in casks. I find it strange that NG finds Summit’s unchained such an apparent threat.
look, the folks at new glarus need to realize that there are more and more breweries popping up and some of these new brewery owners don’t know how to google beer names, series, etc. unless you have a trademark saying no one else can use it, i’m not too concerned with your self proclaimed ownership of any thing you “coin”. Chances are it was done before you, too. As far as the “unchained” vs. “unplugged,” really?? I doubt Wisconsin beer drinkers were losing their minds over any kind of confusion. I generally like New Glarus’ products but have not heard much good about them on a personal level. Seems they need to get over themselves.
I’m surprised that NG isn’t more proactive in defending their trademarks. I wonder if someone brews up a Speckled Cow to sell in Wisconsin if they’ll change the name of their flagship beer.
Isn’t creating glassware with the laser etching, copy-catting the other breweries who have been doing that? Just a thought.
New Glarus is in one state. I’ve never thought of NG when I looked at Summit Unchained. No one is confusing the two. I never saw anything about this until now.
Unchained is a rip off of Unplugged? Really Deb? Didn’t you rip off MTV with the Unplugged name? Hypocrite.