(Abita Springs, LA) – Some drama down in the Bayou.

Daily Report PM broke the news late yesterday that Abita Beer had sent a cease-and-desist letter to a local charity organizer for using the term, “pub crawl.”

Todd Owers III, an attorney with the New Orleans firm of Carver Darden, says Abita owns the Louisiana state trademark for “pub crawl” and that for Manu Kamat to use the term in referring to his events in downtown Baton Rouge is a clear infringement on the brewery’s rights. Kamat says he started organizing monthly bar tours across downtown Baton Rouge in December to benefit the New Orleans Council for Community and Justice.

After that report, dozens of people flooded Facebook to post that they were disappointed in Abita’s legal move. Over 100 people shared the news across Twitter and Facebook and someone even started a parody Abita PR Twitter account.

Earlier this afternoon, the brewery released a statement on Facebook that it had retracted the cease-and-desist albeit with a subtle note that the brewery still thinks it’s home to the original pub crawl. Abita will also be supporting Kamat’s next event. See more below:

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Dear Friends of Abita:

Over the years thousands of you have attended amazing moveable parties known as Pub Crawls. It’s no small feat to put together events of this size and caliber. Our standards are high and we put a great deal of time, thought and effort into making Abita Pub Crawls well-run, fun events for you.

In the 1990s big corporate breweries began trying to mimic craft beers and take over the types of events smaller breweries like us had created. To protect the Pub Crawl for our fans we trademarked the name of the event in Louisiana only. Our intent was to prevent any confusion and to stop the big breweries from copying our success. Over the years, we’ve sent out letters asking others not to use the name Pub Crawl unless it is an Abita sponsored event.

We’ve heard from you today on this trademark issue and we agree. Your respect is far more important to us than two little words.

This morning we reached out to the New Orleans Council for Community and Justice and let them know we’ve changed our mind and our position on the trademark issue. We have offered and they have accepted our support of their next event, scheduled for March 25. Abita is proud of our history of charitable giving to our community through our fundraising brews and our commitment to non-profit organizations.

You may see more Pub Crawls in the future. Some of them may not be sponsored by Abita, but we’re confident you’ll recognize the original when you see it and have a great time.

Thank you for your support of Abita Beer.

Cheers.

David Blossman
President
Abita Beer