Mercenary Brewery & Distillery (2717 N. Maplewood Ave.), which opened last year as the first combined brewery and distillery in Illinois, is changing its name to Maplewood Brewery & Distillery immediately due to a trademark infringement claim brought on by Odell Brewing. This summer, along with a new monkier, Maplewood will begin production on spirits, launch a new beer and open a taproom to the public.
Briefing Of The Case
Odell Brewing Company, based in Fort Collins, Colo., sent Mercenary a cease and desist letter alleging that the Mercenary name infringes on Odell’s trademark on Myrcenary Double IPA beer. Odell registered the trademark to the word “Myrcenary” in 2011.
The owners of the Chicago brewery and distillery tried to work towards a resolution to allow the two names to co-exist, as they had been using the name Mercenary as their branding since 2007. Odell would not allow any use of the word “Mercenary,” but Odell did agree to allow Maplewood to run through its stock with the labels prior to the name change.
Moving forward, the brewery/distillery will be known as Maplewood Brewery & Distillery after the former Chicago village which survived the Great Chicago Fire and was essential in the rebuilding of the city. Maplewood eventually became part of Logan Square, and the street named after it is where the brewery is located.
When Life Gives You Lemons, Throw A Party
Maplewood will release their newest beer, Creepy Ginger, this month. Creepy Ginger is a Belgian Golden Strong Ale with spelt malt and organic ginger. It has been described on Maplewood’s Launch Party Facebook Invite page as a “creepily smooth 7.8% ABV, which is our artistic representation of the level of a ginger’s repressed anger.”*
The event, appropriately named “Creepy Ginger Release and We-Were-Going-To-Be-Sued-So-We-Had-To-Change-Our-Name Party,” takes place at Kaiser Tiger (1415 W. Randolph Street) on April 24. This event will be the first under the new Maplewood branding.
Owner Adam Cieslak says that the party will be the first tapping of the newest beer, but Maplewood’s current brews, Charlatan Pale Ale and Fat Pug Milk Stout, will also be available. For every beer purchased at the event, guests will receive a raffle ticket. Prizes will vary and will likely include old Mercenary memorabilia including tap handles, glassware and bombers. A bocce ball tournament has also been considered to round out the night.
In Good Spirits
The federal craft distiller’s license for the distillery portion of the brand was granted this past week. “Production will start this week on whiskey production,” says Cieslak. Maplewood will also be producing a gin, which will be available in the coming year.
Maplewood’s tap room will likely open to the public this summer, along with tours.
*Writer’s Note: As one of the LoganSquarist’s resident redheads, I feel like I must come to our defense … but I have no argument.
Maplewood, great name, an early name for the neighborhood before it was part of Chicago in the 1870s