Trouble’s Brewing : Competition: One soon-to-open Huntington Beach beer maker brands rival with copying name.

Whether it tastes great or is less filling is not the issue for two Huntington Beach micro-breweries. The argument is over a name, and who gets to keep it.

Owners of the soon-to-open Huntington Beach Brewing Co. have sued the owners of the sooner-to-open Huntington Beach Brewery, claiming that the names are too similar.

The proprietors of the Huntington Beach Brewing Co. filed suit in Orange County Superior Court this week contending that they had the rights to the name first.

“The names are too close, too confusing to the consumers,” said Lawrence Cron, attorney for the Huntington Beach Brewing Co.

The lawsuit contends that “irreparable damage” will occur if the Huntington Beach Brewery gets to keep its name. It also charges that beer establishment “intentionally” tried to “deprive HBBC of the benefits of using the name.”

Cron said the name “means a lot to both sides.”

Both establishments plan to be restaurants that brew their own beer. A hearing is set for Oct. 20.