(Blairsden, CA) – After two name changes, the brewery formerly known as (or rather, currently but not for long) Under Cover Ale Works has dreamed up a name that no other brewery could possibly have thought up. A dustup with Lagunitas, who owns the rights to the ‘Undercover’ mark in beer led the company to change the name to Spy Craft Ales three weeks ago (apparently not officially). So, color us surprised when one of the co-founders dropped this note into our inbox on Monday night.

Per the email:

—

Getting into a lawsuit is not our idea of fun; we would rather be out HIKING, ENJOYING where we live; REMEMBERING why we live here. When a cease and desist letter for the word “undercover” arrived we decided to take the path of least resistance and change our name.

Combining the hidden nature of the brewery with hiking in the Lost Sierras we’ve decided on the name THE BREWING LAIR of the Lost Sierra.

lair |le(!)r| rhymes with bear
noun
a wild animal’s resting place, esp. one that is well hidden.
• a secret or private place in which a person seeks concealment or seclusion.
ORIGIN Old English leger [resting place, bed,] of Germanic origin; related to
Dutch leger ‘bed, camp’ and German Lager ‘storehouse,’

—

Let’s hope that the new name doesn’t lead to any more conflicts for the young brewery.