BeerBorg

I thought the names were funny.
I also think that people who are always offended probably deserve to be.

A couple of ways to look at this:

They can keep the names and let the chips fall where they may. Some people will be offended, others won't. Some will never touch their beer, others may decide it's what makes them want to try their beer. Free market, yo.

My first thought was that it was a tasteless, crass way to bring attention to themselves, regardless of their insistence that they just wanted to bring attention to the issues. There's the ages-old philosophy that bad publicity doesn't exist; as long as you're getting attention, it's all good. I say that approach is disingenuous and lacking in scruples. If they want to address the issues, they can do so in other ways, as was pointed out by one person cited in the article.

Not to throw kerosene on the fire, and don't take it as a personal attack, John Sand, but as a retired cop, would you feel the same way if they marketed a beer and called it "Cop Shot Lager" or something else that referenced harm to LEOs, or portrayed cops as bullies, thugs, and jackbooted hooligans? It's an issue, to be sure, and some people might find it funny because it doesn't involve them.

"He jests at scars that never felt a wound." - Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, scene ii

Interesting counter-points Dave.
My first reaction was also "so what?" and that they were somewhat funny. I also have very thick skin and don't buy into today's world of "everything is offensive and politically incorrect".

I will say that something does strike me as disingenuous here. My gut says that they used the names to be funny, and then when they got called out on them they decided to say that they used them to call attention to important issues (after the fact). I think if they wanted to really call attention to the matter they would have set up a philanthropic donation from each beer sale to the relevant cause(s).

Or it could be Friday morning and I'm neither awake nor deeply vested in this so I'm rambling. In any case, it will be interesting to see how things play out for them.

Dave, I'll put you firmly in the "offended" category.
I don't think that anything they labeled advocated violence, but rather made light of current slogans and stories. I also feel that your reply is personal attack.

People in Flint had excessive lead in their water, resulting in brain damage especially to children. Nothing funny about that.

John Sand wrote:Dave, I'll put you firmly in the "offended" category.
I don't think that anything they labeled advocated violence, but rather made light of current slogans and stories. I also feel that your reply is personal attack.

So you're offended by my remark? I'd say we're even, then.

And keep in mind that I said before I made my reply to you that I didn't mean it as a personal attack, which was more advance notice than these particular brewers made, since they backpedaled after being called out. At least give me a little credit for that much integrity.

No Dave, I'm not offended. Do you think I never heard anything harsh about police before? Mostly from people who live in safe communities and hold themselves above those that protect them, people who never volunteered for military service or took a risk for others. People who think that feelings of outrage discussed over latte are the same as taking actual action to stop violence. To them I reply with a quote from TR:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Your disclaimer did not lessen your obvious effort to be insulting. I find it amusing that you think it's reasonable to insult someone who disagrees with you. I guess that's "tolerance".
And I've a joke for you!
How many cops does it take to throw a suspect down a flight of stairs? None. He fell.
Put that in your hat, if there's any room.

Offensive or not you have to admit that this was a brilliant marketing ploy! When you're starting a business you want attention and as we've all witnessed any attention is good attention, not only did they get regional attention but also national and I'll bet that everyone here who has read this article/post wants to at least try the beer to see if it any good. They make a "bonehead" politically incorrect announcement then an apology and everyone is at least a little curious about their beer!

John Sand wrote: Your disclaimer did not lessen your obvious effort to be insulting. I find it amusing that you think it's reasonable to insult someone who disagrees with you. I guess that's "tolerance".

You've misinterpreted nearly everything I posted, and you certainly misinterpreted my intent. I meant no insult; I was merely attempting to put the shoe of "taking offense" on the other foot. Perhaps I am also guilty of misinterpretation, but it seemed to me that it didn't matter to you if someone else took offense because you were removed from the topic. I was just trying to bring it closer to home for you, which may not have been necessary. I never meant any personal insult to you or peace officers.

However, I still disagree with your statement that people who are always offended probably deserve to be. Let's not confuse being offended with recognizing that something is offensive. Personally, I'm not offended by those beer names, but I do think they're offensive, the same way I think a "Cop Shot Lager" would be offensive on the face of it. The same way I'd feel offended if a toddler crashed a party for grown-ups and peed on the carpet. He didn't pee on my shoes, so I'm not personally insulted, but it's gratuitously offensive. What's the point, other than to get attention?

If you still feel that I was being intentionally insulting to you, please let me know specifically what it was in my post that led you to that conclusion. If I understand better, then I can at least make the honest attempt at clarifying things for you.

Very late last night, I believe the penny dropped for me.

John, I believe you took my words about police being bullies, etc., as my personal feelings toward cops. I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth. I used those words as examples of attitudes about police that people have in my example of offensive labels. They do not reflect me or my attitude. It was an attempt at a third-person generalization.

I'm sorry you inferred the wrong message.

I'm a little dense sometimes, and couldn't see the forest of my words for the trees of what I knew was my intent.

LouieMacGoo wrote:Offensive or not you have to admit that this was a brilliant marketing ploy! When you're starting a business you want attention and as we've all witnessed any attention is good attention, not only did they get regional attention but also national and I'll bet that everyone here who has read this article/post wants to at least try the beer to see if it any good. They make a "bonehead" politically incorrect announcement then an apology and everyone is at least a little curious about their beer!

I'm a marketer. Nothing brilliant about their "strategy" IMO. Simply an attempt to grab attention. Huge negative social media impact that will haunt them.

Brewery opened in Ann Arbor. A designer was not happy at how payment was, or was not, made and the argument went to social media. Owner made stupid responses to designer on social media. The public responded very aggressively, widespread attacks on the brewery, much based on zero knowledge of the the facts. It closed months before it's second anniversary.

This will backfire. I suspect it was developed (I give it too much credit by using that term) while consuming alcohol.

Leave Marketing to the experts. Your beer should speak louder than the names.

Name is out there now! Before no one would have known anything about them! Publicity is publicity good or bad.