Save Vermonster, Save Rock Art Brewery

UPDATE (10/22/2009): ROCK ART IS SAVED! Check out the details here.

If you’re looking for a review of a beer in this post, you won’t find one. This is the very first time I’m making a non-review related posting, and it’s for a very good reason. Rock Art Brewery out of Morrisville, Vermont is facing a dire situation. Monster Beverage Corporation (Makers of Monster Energy Drink) have slapped this small craft brewer with a cease and desist order, requesting Matt (owner and operator of Rock Art) to stop producing the Vermonster Beer.

This corporate monster (pun intended) is trying to crush the little guy, and for no reason. Lawyers have even told Matt that they have no legitimate case against him, but they will win in court because they have all the money in the world to spend in litigation.

Rather than having me explain, the best thing you can do is watch this video. It will tell the whole story, and probably make you sick to your stomach.

Please, spread the word about this injustice. Things you can do to help:

#1: Visit Rock Art’s website.

#2: Join the “Vermonsters and Craft Beer Drinkers Against Monster” Facebook group.

#3: Contact Monster Energy and tell them how you feel:
Hansens company owns Monster: Contact them

#4: Contact Vermont Politicians:
Bernie Sanders: http://sanders.senate.gov/contact/
Senator Patrick Leahy: senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov
Email Peter Welch (House of representatives [VT] and on the House Small Brewers Caucus)

#5: Discuss the topic on Twitter. Use Rock Art’s official hashtag “#ISUPPORTROCKART” in your Tweets.

#6: Follow Rock Art Brewery on Twitter.

#7: Call Hansen’s Natural and lodge a complaint. 1-800-426-7367 Remember to be polite!

#8: Contact Monster energy.

#9: Contact the board of directors for Hansens. A list of board members can be found at this link.

Email addresses are formatted: Firstname.Lastname@hansens.com

#10: Buy Rock Art beer!!!

#11: Sign this petition.

#12: Buy a Vermonster T-shirt. Not yet available on the Rock Art website. Call 802-888-9400, email rockart@pwshift.com, or visit the brewery to get one. $15. M/L/XL/XXL. Vermonster label on the front.

My contact links came courtesy of Beeradvocate. Please check them the ongoing Rock Art discussion they have at this link.

Note: Please remember to be polite when lodging a complaint. Angry / mean / hateful communication is unproductive. Keeping it short is also helpful. I’ve posted a copy of the email I sent Hansen to give an example.

To whom it may concern:

First I’ll start by saying I’m a fan of energy drinks. Monster has been my drink of choice, followed by Amp and others. That said…I’m also a fan of craft brewing. And now you know where this email is headed.

I’ve recently heard about the cease and desist order against Rock Art Brewery in Vermont and I am disgusted at what “Hansen’s Natural” has turned to…and for what gain? Is a small family business in Vermont really having an impact on Monster Energy drink sales?

I’ll cut to the chase and simply state that I’ve stopped purchasing Monster Energy drink, and am propagating information about this story via social media. I would love to hear that Hansen’s has done the right thing and withdrawn the cease and desist letter.

Thank you for your time.