Two Midwest breweries enter legal fight over name “Ope” [Video]

MINOCQUA, Wis. — It’s a battle over beer in Wisconsin as two independent breweries enter a legal fight over the use of a time-honored Midwestern saying. 

Two Wisconsin businesses are involved in the fight: OPE! Brewing in West Allis and Minocqua Brewing Co. OPE! filed a lawsuit against Minocqua Brewing Co. after it launched a beer called “OPE: A Lager with Big Dad Energy” in honor of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s vice presidential run. 

Both businesses recently took to social media to explain their sides of the story. 

Minocqua Brewing Co. posted firston Facebook, saying they got a call from OPE! Brewing after releasing the beer saying they stole the company’s trademarked name. The post stated that the two tried to collaborate for a solution – OPE! offered splitting the profits evenly while Minocqua offered 5% of …