The Gentleman Brewing Company Takes on Big Spirits with #NotAGin Campaign.
The Gentleman Brewing Company, a small yet passionate beer brand, is facing a trademark infringement claim from a billion-pound player in the spirits industry over their newly developed product, 'The Botanist FunctionAle.'
Coined as the world's first healthy beer, this non-alcoholic beverage is at the centre of a legal battle with Bruichladdich Distillery Company Limited, part of the billion-pound Remy Cointreau organisation, the creators of "The Botanist" gin.
In a classic David vs. Goliath scenario, The Gentleman Brewing Company is drumming up support for their brand and launching a #NotAGin campaign starting on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024.
The Story
"We were shocked to receive a trademark infringement notice from such a large corporation. Our product, 'The Botanist FunctionAle,' is a non-alcoholic beer, and we believe there is a clear distinction in the Trade Marks Act 1994, between our offering and their gin, so we won’t bow down to what we believe is bullishness.
"We are a small-scale startup, releasing our first batch of The Botanist FunctionAle this May. We’ve been very careful to adhere to trademarks and would never operate from a place of malice, so being faced with a lengthy and pricey legal battle is so disheartening. But we sincerely believe we can protect the name as we don’t believe consumers will be confused between the two.
"There was a very similar case back in 2015. J.J. Lawrence (known as Top Cat) at Tiger Gin vs. Heineken’s Tiger Beer Brand. Lawrence's single-handed victory in standing up to a large corporation to protect his brand has inspired us immensely, and he has been kind enough to speak with us”.
The Campaign
The #NotAGin campaign aims to highlight the differences between non-alcoholic beer and gin while rallying support from the community. The campaign encourages consumers to take selfies on social media with their "The Botanist FunctionAle" or any non-alcoholic drink, as beverages like Coca-Cola and Fanta fall into the same Trademark class as ours, using the hashtag #NotAGin.
What is The Botanist FunctionAle?
The Botanist FunctionAle is the world's first low-alcohol functional beer, designed to offer the taste and experience of a traditional beer while providing health benefits. Launched in May 2024, this innovative product combines botanical infusions with natural ingredients to create a refreshing, non-alcoholic alternative for health-conscious consumers. This 0.5% ABV beer is infused with a unique blend of botanicals, vitamins, and hydrolysed collagen, offering both flavour and functionality.
“Our proprietary blend of six botanicals, vitamins, and hydrolysed collagen delivers a flavour profile and health benefits unmatched in the industry,” said Kristian Harris, co-founder. The carefully curated botanical infusion includes Hibiscus, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Goji berries, Ginger root, and Elderflower, combined with essential Vitamin B complex and vitamin C.
Amie Caldwell, co-founder and former NHS nurse, added,
“We’ve had such amazing feedback from all the taste tests we’ve carried out. Each participant pulls out a different flavour profile from the many botanicals it’s packed with. It really feels like we’ve created a special low-alcohol beer that’s not been considered before.”
Find out more about The Botanist FunctionAle and the founders of the Gentleman Brewing Company in their interview on the Low No Drinker Podcast.
Join the Movement
For more information, follow us on social media @thegentlemanbrewingcompany
Media Contact: Kristian Harris kristian.harris@tgbco.co.uk +44 7772 391394 www.tgbco.co.uk
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