Strange Microbrew

A case full of ship.
Based on a 1995 trademark infringement controversy, Strange Microbrew is an amusing documentary that looks at the issues raised when the tiny Tall Ship Ale microbrewery clashes with the corporate beer muscles of the Molson Brewing Company.
Director:
Bernie Cho
Camera-person / Editor / Sound Designer:
Julie Kim 
Producer:
Chang-Hoon Lee
In February 1995, Canadas largest beer conglomerate, Molson Brewing Company, accused the two-man Tall Ship Ale microbrewery in Squamish, British Columbia of trademark infringement. Molsons lawyers issued Tall Ship Ale a cease and desist order on the grounds that the ship on the microbrewerys beer label closely resembled the ship on the Molson Export beer label. Despite Molsons litigious tradition, their trademark infringement claim in this particular case seemed to lack merit in the court of public opinion. To the average beer drinker, Tall Ship Ale didnt even look, sound, or taste like Molson Export. Via an unconventional mix of on-camera interviews and spliced commentary from SCTVs MacKenzie Brothers, Strange Microbrew provides an enlightening case study on how small entrepreneurs like Tall Ship Ale successfully confront corporate bullying in an ultracompetitive marketplace.