Boss Brewing is a craft brewery in Swansea, South Wales, founded in 2014[1] by husband and wife Sarah and Roy Allkin.[2] In May 2015 the brewery received a Society of Independent Brewers Gold Award[3] and was awarded CAMRA's Champion Beer of Wales award for its stout in 2019.[4]
In August 2019, after applying to trademark its brand name, the brewery received a cease and desist letter from fashion company Hugo Boss[1] and incurred costs of almost £10,000 defending itself in the legal battle.[5] Boss Brewing had to change the name of two of its beers: Boss Black, a stout, became Boss Brewing Black, and Boss Boss, a double IPA, is now Boss Bossy.[6] The rebranding process cost more than £20,000.[7]
In March 2020 comedian Joe Lycett briefly changed his name by deed poll to Hugo Boss in order to support the Welsh brewery.[8]
References
- Welsh brewery changes name of beers after trademark battle with Hugo Boss thedrinksbusiness.com, 12 August 2019, retrieved 2020-03-02^
- Boss Brewing Master of Malt, retrieved 2020-03-02^
- Swansea-based Boss Brewing Win the Champion Stout of Wales Crown Business News Wales, 2017-10-03, retrieved 2020-03-02^
- Champion Beer of Wales CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale, retrieved 2020-03-02^
- Welsh brewery spends nearly £10,000 in battle with clothing giant over name ITV News, retrieved 2020-03-02^
- Robert Dalling. Fashion giant Hugo Boss sets lawyers on small Welsh brewing company walesonline, 2019-08-10, retrieved 2020-03-02^
- Lucy Campbell. Comedian Joe Lycett changes name to Hugo Boss in swipe at fashion house The Guardian, 2020-03-02, retrieved 2020-03-02^
- Comedian Joe Lycett changes name to Hugo Boss to support Welsh brewery after legal fight ITV News, retrieved 2020-03-02^