Cumbrian brewery disappointed at “aggressive” beer ruling

[Chippy_Tea]

A Cumbrian brewery has been left disappointed after a range of beer it produced was deemed to encourage “violent and aggressive behaviour” by alcohol watchdog the Portman Group.

Eden Brewery, which is based in Brougham Hall, near Penrith, has withdrawn the name of its Psycho range of beers after a complaint was upheld by the group.

The complainant said they believed the name Psycho broke the Portman Group’s code on responsible labelling of beer as it created an association with “violent and aggressive behaviour”.

However, Eden Brewery managing director Jason Hill said he was disappointed to have to remove the name based on a single complaint.

Mr Hill said the Psycho range was an experimental and high flavour range designed to be savoured and enjoyed.

He said: “We launched the range last year and since then we have sold thousands of bottles of the product, which has been very well received and highly popular. Now, on the grounds of just one complaint, we have been put in a position where we have to go through the costly and time consuming process of redesigning and rethinking the whole brand.

“The Psycho branding was chosen to represent how the range could expand your horizons and change your perceptions about how exciting and tasty beer can be. This is a high quality, premium product aimed at true beer fans, not people who are looking to get drunk and engage in aggressive behaviour.

“Although there is no obligation on us to change the name because of the Portman Group’s decision, they will send a notification to all our retailers telling them not to stock the product. As a small business we have little choice and can’t take the risk of the negative effects on sales.

“Ultimately we are confident that people will keep enjoying the range, no matter how we name it, because it is made up of a high quality selection of beers. We also welcome people’s feedback on our products and are happy to accept everybody has different opinions about what is and isn’t acceptable.

“But I do think there are legitimate questions to be asked about the fairness of an organisation which can put small businesses like ours in the position of having to make costly and time-consuming changes on the strength of just one complaint.”

http://www.cumbriacrack.com/2016/11/07/cumbrian-brewery-disappointed-aggressive-beer-ruling/

 

[terrym]

The first thing most people will associate with the word 'Psycho' is something deranged or worse, so in my book it's a naff name to give your beer.
Although I have some sympathy for them if they decide to change the name in view of the resulting cost to their business on the strength of one complaint, if they had given it a better name in the first place they wouldn't be faced with this.
Still its good publicity for them.

 

[darkbright]

Agree it's a **** name. Just change it to "Not Psycho".

 

[peebee]

I don't think Eden Brewery are coming out of this discussion well...

I agree, "Psycho" was a dumb choice of name. Does it reflect the quality of the product? If having such dumb names is okay, perhaps we can have men's toiletries called "Clit****".

 

[BeardySi]

Send the bill for the rebrand to the marketing agency for coming up with that stinker of a brand tbh.

Yes, it's bad that they can be effectively bullied into taking action by a regulator like that, particularly if it's only a single complaint as they say.

But it's a pretty poor brand name, so in the long run they've probably done them a favour.
Psycho in its pop culture sense has connotations if deranged killers. In its clinical sense psycho(pathy) is about narcissism, lack of empathy or emotion and antisocial behaviour. None of those involve expanding your horizons and trying more beer, and none of which I'd want associated with my beer/brand/company.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[aamcle]

Dumb choice - the reaction was appropriate.


aamcle

 

[Clint]

Well I think the Portman lot need a kick up the jumper! People are no more likely to go mad drinking beer called psycho or Mary bloody Poppins !Didn't Brains have one called Skull Attack?
I think I'd name my beer...
Mary Poppins psycho Elvis Attack with Guns IPA.

Not as if they called it Rolf Harris Best Bitter is it?
Taliban mild anyone?
Whatever next?

Cheers

Clint

 

[Personal91]

think outside the box please people, if it's they're brew it's they're choice to call it as they may.

Thousands of bottles bought - something was right about them

+ you don't know the reference, they may have been referring to the game boarderlands etc

I personally think a few people here are being sheetlet and just going with the general conscensus as it's easier to go with as apose to against the grain

 

[Leon103]

But Stella Act a **** is OK

 

[terrym]

think outside the box please people, if it's they're brew it's they're choice to call it as they may.

Thousands of bottles bought - something was right about them

+ you don't know the reference, they may have been referring to the game boarderlands etc

I personally think a few people here are being sheetlet and just going with the general conscensus as it's easier to go with as apose to against the grain

My view about this hasn't changed one bit since I posted earlier. It's still a naff name. Reference to 'boarderland' (whatever that is) whether intended or not doesn't come into it.

I'm pleased they've sold their beer in the thousands, and hopefully folk came back for more, but that doesn't come into it, it's still a naff name. That said if it's so successful perhaps they don't need the outlet that Portman provides and it can still be sold elsewhere with its current name, whether I like the name or not .

 

[Pfeffer]

Damn I thought you guys fought off the nazis in 1940 - where the hell did these ones come from?

 

[Personal91]

My view about this hasn't changed one bit since I posted earlier. It's still a naff name. Reference to 'boarderland' (whatever that is) whether intended or not doesn't come into it.

I'm pleased they've sold their beer in the thousands, and hopefully folk came back for more, but that doesn't come into it, it's still a naff name. That said if it's so successful perhaps they don't need the outlet that Portman provides and it can still be sold elsewhere with its current name, whether I like the name or not .

Opinion is subjective - and everyone having slightly different tastes and preferences allows a multitude of different ideologys and the vast expansiveness of artistic flare to bring a flurry of colour and light to an otherwise black and white world

If people have a problem with the branding psycho why don't they have a problem with the branding bishops finger

Surely in a world today where the church has been exposed for what has been happening historically to young boys and still it is accepted as a brand for a beer. How many have complained and yet it hasn't had to re-brand ?

 

[brisboy]

Just sounds like an attempt at saying their product is pushing the boundary of flavour etc. Similar idea to punk ipa, feral ipa etc. I would think all those boring lagers would be more to blame for violence and hatred than a beer with an out of the ordinary name trying to make their beer stand out a bit.

Expensive decision for them.

 

[IainM]

Its good to know that the Portman Group is looking after my best interests. After all, nobody wants a repeat of the incident where I drank a bottle of Shipwrecker Circus, dressed like a clown and scuttled a yacht.

 

[Clint]

Crikey don't mention clowns! I hate clowns!
Yeah imagine getting hammered on Ghost ship....running around wrapped in a sheet wailing or even worse...like that Mr Claypole from Rentaghost ...

Cheers

Clint

 

[darkbright]

Its good to know that the Portman Group is looking after my best interests. After all, nobody wants a repeat of the incident where I drank a bottle of Shipwrecker Circus, dressed like a clown and scuttled a yacht.

Brilliant. In that case, I'm going to order a bottle of this..

 

[HebridesRob]

Well I think the Portman lot need a kick up the jumper! People are no more likely to go mad drinking beer called psycho or Mary bloody Poppins !Didn't Brains have one called Skull Attack?
I think I'd name my beer...
Mary Poppins psycho Elvis Attack with Guns IPA.

Not as if they called it Rolf Harris Best Bitter is it?
Taliban mild anyone?
Whatever next?

Cheers

Clint

No. SA Brain and Co called one of their beers, their best bitter, "SA", which could have been a tribute to their founder or could just have stood for "Strong Ale". It was us drinkers that nick-named it "Skull-Attack". It wasn't/isn't all that strong though, just over 4%.

If I was going to sell a beer I'd call it "Responsibly" to take advantage of the free advertising.

 

[Linalmeemow]

It's not a great name for a beer but it shouldn't be cause for concern. I've had a few pints of Orkney Skullsplitter and that's been around for years without complaint as far as I'm aware.

I had a bottle of the Psycho Hop Rocket a couple of weeks ago. Nice but nothing special, and certainly not worth the steep asking price.

 

[Brew_DD2]

Portman Group is comprised of fuddy duddies with sticks up their collective arses. It's not what I'd call my beer, but it's a sad day when somebody's business is put in jeopardy because we can't apparently be trusted to make up our own minds on responsible drinking, or questionable marketing.

 

[Pfeffer]

I have no clue why the name of a product matters, it's marketing. Another hobby is growing hot peppers, any idea hot succes are being named?

*sips on a nice glass of delirium tremens*