‘In-N-Stout’ beer offends In-N-Out. Burger chain crafts response full of beer puns

A beer meant to marry two of California’s biggest loves — craft brew and In-N-Out burgers — is now the subject of a potential copyright lawsuit over the burger chain’s iconic palm tree and arrow logo.

Potentially even more troubling? The flavor: Neapolitan milkshake stout.

Last month, San Francisco craft brewery Seven Stills promoted on its Instagram page a “barrel aged neopolitan [SIC] milkshake stout” named “In-N-Stout” that bears the iconic logo of the In-N-Out burger chain.

And in a bold move on the same Instagram post, Seven Stills said the beer was “coming soon” and tagged the burger maker’s account.

In response, attorneys representing In-N-Out sent the brewer a cease and desist letter stacked with beer puns that you could say are … delightfully cheesy. So good that Seven Stills posted an image of that letter on its Instagram.

The cease and desist letter is a bit long but we’re highlighting the parts that include the puns:

“Based on your use of our marks, we felt obligated to hop to action in order to prevent further issues from brewing … We hope you appreciate, however, that we are attempting to clearly distill our rights by crafting an amicable approach with you, rather than barrel through this … Please contact us as soon as possible, so this does not continue to ferment. Thank you for your time and consideration, and we look forward to resolving this in good spirits.”

The “In-N-Stout” beer and the clever response from In-N-Out’s lawyers caught the attention of several others on social media who couldn’t resist to weigh in.

Sensing potential trouble — or marketing success — Seven Stills last week posted a video promoting its In-N-Out-inspired stout for sale at its San Francisco location on Thursday.

On the video, which blurs the In-N-Out resemblance, Seven Stills says “We are not releasing some cheap copyright knockoff can you think you saw once. We will release a barrel aged chocolate, vanilla, strawberry neopolitan milkshake stout. And the first 100 people who buy a can at the brewery will receive a free burger from In-N-Out.”

The ad appropriately ends with, “Cease being late! Desist missing out!”

Well played.

Tell us what you think — would you try this Neapolitan milkshake stout? Is Seven Stills going to far to sell a beer?