It appears that the government is beginning to crack down on products named after President Obama. After reading a Facebook message, Brownstoner reports Sixpoint Craft Ales were forced to shut down their "Hop Obama" line by the feds. Owner Shane Welch confirms to us that a government representative revoked his license to brew the beer and is monitoring his production and inventory (but makes it clear there were no guns or teargas involved). It's unclear to us why they didn't just force him to change the name and why the Dept. of Homeland Security would get involved (see below). Nevertheless here's an excerpt of the Facebook message Shane sent out to his friends this morning:
"Sixpoint was raided by the Feds and they put the kabosh on our Hop Obama. Naturally, I was infuriated by the censorship so I decided to do what I've done from the start - turn it into a story and allow the company to serve as a platform for delivering the story. However, this was quickly squashed by the Feds as well. Apparently, they did not want us making the beer NOR did they want me to create a story out of it.
Then, the plot thickens....The Department of Homeland Security gets involved. We recently received an official cease and desist letter from them claiming we must take immediate acts to shut down and exterminate our production, dissemination, and distribution of this brand or the Federal government will enact punitive fines and/or seize control of our brewery.
Don't worry though, the Hop Obama will live on, and be stronger than it ever was. We have a plan.... Kind of like Obi-wan Kenobi when he was struck down by Vader and came back as the guiding voice for Luke Skywalker. There will be a new reincarnation of the beer, along with many others."
