Cold Brew: 2nd Montana brewer set to fight for the right to ‘Yellowstone’ – Yellowstone Beer Company

Claiming exclusive trademark rights to the word "Yellowstone," a large Missouri brewer and distributor has demanded that a second Montana company stop using Yellowstone in its business name.

Last year, David Sherman Corp. of St. Louis threatened Yellowstone Valley Brewing Co. of Billings, asking it to stop using its name and turn over all its products.

In a May 20 letter this spring, the Missouri distiller issued a similar threat to Yellowstone Beer Co. of West Yellowstone.

Owners Victor and Mary Cavalier said the certified letter ordered them to stop using their corporate name and to ship all their labels and beer to St. Louis.

However, the letter was sent to the wrong person and address, to a former employee of Lewis & Clark Brewery in Helena.

"I think they are fishing," Victor Cavalier said. "They came up with the name of a guy who hadn’t even worked with Lewis & Clark for five years."

David Sherman makes some 60 alcoholic products, including one called Yellowstone Bourbon.

Both Montana business owners are defending their trademark registrations.

Yellowstone Valley Brewing President and co-owner George Moncure agrees it’s some kind of a financial fishing expedition. "They’re setting me up for some kind of extortion," he said.

By JAN FALSTAD
Of The Gazette Staff

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/06/12/build/business/20-brew.inc

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