Sam Adams for Mayor
Thursday November 8, 2007
Regular readers will know that I'm a fan of the Boston Beer Company. It's not so much because of their beers - although I do enjoy some of their brands - but because of all that they've done to elevate the beer discussion in the US. Their TV ads don't even consider the crude humor and T&A that is prevalent in beer marketing. Instead they talk about styles, flavor and ingredients. While these ads are promoting Sam Adams products they also go a long way to educate the average consumer about beer beyond American style lager.
But they are a biggish company and sometimes end up acting like one.
Recently a local level politician emerged in Portland, Oregon. His name is Sam Adams and he's running for mayor. A couple of websites were registered on his behalf using his name, http://www.samadamsformayor.com and http://www.mayorsamadams.com. When the Boston Beer Company caught wind of this they sent letter claiming that they had been using Sam Adams since 1984. Unfortunately for the brewer, the mayoral candidate has been using that name since 1963. And I'm guessing that he has some pretty good documentation to back that up.
Upon hearing the whole story, the beer maker said that they're willing to discuss allowing Sam to use his own name on the website "probably for the length of the time the election is being held."
Oh, c'mon Boston Beer Company, lighten up! There's little chance that anyone is going to confuse you with the politician. Instead of having a little fun with this coincidence by, say, sending a few case of your beer to the campaign you want to get all legal on them? The only thing that you have to lose here is all the good will that you've spent years cultivating.
But they are a biggish company and sometimes end up acting like one.
Recently a local level politician emerged in Portland, Oregon. His name is Sam Adams and he's running for mayor. A couple of websites were registered on his behalf using his name, http://www.samadamsformayor.com and http://www.mayorsamadams.com. When the Boston Beer Company caught wind of this they sent letter claiming that they had been using Sam Adams since 1984. Unfortunately for the brewer, the mayoral candidate has been using that name since 1963. And I'm guessing that he has some pretty good documentation to back that up.
Upon hearing the whole story, the beer maker said that they're willing to discuss allowing Sam to use his own name on the website "probably for the length of the time the election is being held."
Oh, c'mon Boston Beer Company, lighten up! There's little chance that anyone is going to confuse you with the politician. Instead of having a little fun with this coincidence by, say, sending a few case of your beer to the campaign you want to get all legal on them? The only thing that you have to lose here is all the good will that you've spent years cultivating.
Comments
I think this reveals a bit more of the true character of the Boston Beer Company. They aren’t the folksy company their advertising would have us believe. They have a lot more in common with the mega-brewers than with craft brewers. Look behind the facade and you see that the “Boston’ Beer Company is really based in Cincinnati, Ohio and they contract brew most of their “craft” beer.
I agree that they make some very good beers, and have definitely helped raise awareness and consumption of craft beers. I wish they were a bit more genuine though.
Elevated the discussion? Try, dumbing down American history. I’ve long had a different take on Sam Adams commercials. Sam Adams, the patriot, was one of the most important figures in the American Revolution. Unfortunately, in my opinion, these mindless commercials with a guy dressed up as Adams (and the name of the beer itself) have created a situation where 99% of Americans hear the name Sam Adams they think of beer! The fact that Adams was a brewer is not significant in historical terms. That would be like Americans remembering Abraham Lincoln as a lawyer.
If anything, Boston Beer Company has made Americans stupider, not more educated, hops and barley notwithstanding.
Just my opinion. But I honestly cringe whenever I see these commercials.
p.s. – I happen to like the “crude” beer marketing. It is one of the last bastions of political incorrectness in American discourse. And nothing has made America dumber than political correctness.