Here's the thing. I know very little about law, but some things stick me as just wrong. Broccoli for instance. Its legality yet another example of failed governments across the whole world. Letting some of my family breed is another. But I digress. So lawful and moral might not always be the same thing.
In the Cederberg, a hotbed of Nieuwoudts, there are two breweries and one winery. Run by members of the same extended family. One brewery associated with said winery. They've been making wine here since 1978. Beer not so long. Very good wines. Award winning good. The beers less so. The other brewery is a first generation, award winning brewery. Became known as Cederbrew. Ran by sisters Tania and Melanie Nieuwoudt. Makers of one of the bests weiss beers I've tasted although it is their stout that won the awards. So now their neighbour from the winery sent a cease and desist type letter to the sister about using the name Cederbrew. For the full detail see their
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| Picture from their twitter |
facebook page, Lucy Corne's blog and the Jumpstarter page. Something about the much bigger and better resourced lot registering the trademark Cederbrew earlier. Although their bottles state Cederberg brewery. So now the sisters need help to register a new name and pay some lawyers. They are going the crowdsourcing route. Where you put in some money and get some benefits. These range from tastings, merchandise and weekends for 4.
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| Picture from their website |
As I said earlier when you were more awake, I don't know the law, but in the interest of good beer, the sisters should be supported. My sense of wrong and right is also triggered by this issue. Big versus small. Not that all small is better than big (1). As I really like the sister's beer, I will continue to support them. My name is on the jumpstarter list. Yours should be too. And as I think what the winery did is reprehensible, I will boycott their wine for life. I'll decide mine or their's. Not just not buy it. Not drinking it when offered. And telling this story when the wine is offered. And then drinking some beer from Tania and Melanie. Whatever it is called then.
(1) In the case of broccoli of course small is better than big. and tiny is better than small.
