E-Malt.com News article: USA, MI: Craft brewery in Jackson to reopen under new name on July 9

Changing the name of their six-month-old brewing company wasn't something Blong Thao and Jeff Tolonen were necessarily happy about, but things seem to be working out fine, Mlive.com reported on July 3.

Tolonen's and Thao's brewpub at 3090 Shirley Dr. in Blackman Township in Jackson, MI, which opened as Sheds Brewing in January, is now known as 127 Brewing.

The two brewers were surprised when they received a letter from a Washington, D.C.-based attorney notifying them their business name was in violation of a federal trademark.

"We were aware there had been a place called The Shed Brewing, but when we looked it up, it was closed," Tolonen said. "So, we didn't think there would be any problem."

What they didn't know was The Shed Brewing, a Vermont brewery, had been purchased by Otter Creek Brewing, also in Vermont. The latter still holds the right to and distributes product under the name The Shed.

"It wasn't a cease-and-desist or anything like that, but they did let us know if we didn't change our name, there would be legal action," Tolonen said.

Not wanting to put the time or money into a court battle, Tolonen and Thao decided a name change would be in their best interest.

"Really, the timing was good," Tolonen said. "We'd only been open a few months, and all our mugs (for the mug club) had sold.

"The only thing it really cost us was a new sign."

Settling on a new name wasn't easy, however. By Tolonen's count, 127 Brewing was the 556th suggestion.

"Blong and I just couldn't decide," Tolonen said. "Everything was too long or too complicated."

Name-change drama aside, things are good at 127 Brewing.

The brewery is closed this week to implement new and larger brewing equipment and so Tolonen and Thao can "brew like crazy" to replenish their beer stock.

The brewery will reopen Wednesday, July 9, for normal business hours, which are 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5 p.m. to midnight Friday and noon to midnight Saturday.


04 July, 2014