Norwich beer brewery Redwell Brewing in name dispute with Red Bull

14 August 2013 by
Norwich beer brewery Redwell Brewing in name dispute with Red Bull

A small craft beer brewery in Norwich is locked in a battle over its name after energy drinks giant Red Bull wrote demanding that it be changed.

Redwell Brewing, which the owners have said is named after Redwell Street in Norwich, has received a letter from Red Bull saying that the "red" and double "L" of the Redwell brand could "confuse consumers" as it was too similar to its own.

The letter also alleged that the names are alike "from a visual as well from a phonetical point of view" and that the Norwich brand could be misconstrued as an offshoot of the energy name, unfairly profiting from its success, and tarnishing the Red Bull trademark.

Employing just eight people and producing 3,000 litres a week, Redwell Brewing opened in October last year, and sells its locally-brewed beer varieties to Norwich Tap House, a pub in Redwell Street, as well as pubs across Norwich and in London.

Redwell co-director Benjamin Thompson called the letter "an overreaction" and said that their product was the result of "a lot of hard work", including branding artwork designed by graphic design students at Norwich University of the Arts. He said having to find a new name at this stage would be "catastrophic".

Redwell has replied to Red Bull and is reportedly trying to come to an agreement without a name change becoming necessary.

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