MADD angry at Flying Fish brewery for naming beers after NJ freeway exits?
It is acceptable to name your alcoholic beverage after a moving vehicle so long as a car isn't the vehicle in question; e.g. Night Train Express wine and Warbird beer (How about Thunderbird? - Ed). In fact, it's frowned upon to give alcohol a name that can even be associated with cars. New Jersey craft brewer Flying Fish has attracted the attention of MADD, the NJ Turnpike Authority (NJTA), and the press for breaking the taboo with its line of beers named after exits on the New Jersey Turnpike.The Exit 4 American Trippel was the first in the "big beer" series -- they come in 750-ml bottles -- part of "a multi-year brewing experiment to brew a series of beers as diverse as the great state of New Jersey." Exit 11, a Hoppy American Wheat Ale, will be coming later this month and is "a tribute to Woodbridge's exit, where the Turnpike meets the Garden State Parkway." Which must taste delicious...
MADD feels that "The combination of a roadway and advertising for any kind of a beer doesn't make any kind of sense." The NJTA wants to make sure no one thinks it's turned into a brewer. To address both issues each bottle of flying fish includes a disclaimer, "The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has no affiliation with the Exit Series. Both the Turnpike Authority and Flying Fish agree that you should never drink and drive." That hasn't quite quelled the controversy, but it does tell people two things they should already know.
[Source: Boston.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Aloysius Vampa 8:07AM (7/15/2009)
"The NJTA wants to make sure no one thinks it's turned into a brewer."
Yeah, that was my first thought when I saw the beer. I mean, the Flying Fish logo didn't phase me at all! I knew this excellent brew must be the work of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority!
GIVE ME A BREAK!
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Joe K. 9:17AM (7/15/2009)
John Q. Public: "So if it's made by them, that means they endorse it for consumption on their roadway."
I can't wait until the PATH beer comes out, oh wait that's PBR.
some1 11:42AM (7/15/2009)
Go figure, lets do what most americans do, point fingers at someone else...
Maybe MADD should be targeting PARENTS and the tards that actually drive drunk...
But hey, its the same thing with video games... since parents and people are lazy, they find something to point the finger at.
i see a road sign, i dont assume it means to drive drunk... do they seriously think people are as simple minded as they are?
Berto 12:03PM (7/15/2009)
Road Beers!
meatbag 7:31PM (7/15/2009)
just for a little background, for those that dont know, in NJ many people identify where they live based off of what parkway exit you live nearest. its a skinny state with the parkway going almost completely across the long portion, thus when you say you're live near 140, most people know thats near Newark, if you say exit 70 thats the Pine Barrons, exit 4 is near Atlantic City.
gefinley 8:07AM (7/15/2009)
MADD are always angry about something.
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Noidor 11:19AM (7/15/2009)
That's what happens when thin-lipped, white middle-class women without a real career, get together.
cancercell 2:23PM (7/15/2009)
hints the "madd" part? honestly, i think they could go eff themselves. I'm always rude to those people driving (sober) or not, cuz they seem to always piss me off with their crap.
cr7.24 5:27PM (7/15/2009)
MADD needs to go away. They have outlived their usefullness.
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Joe K. 8:13AM (7/15/2009)
If its not Beer with a local spin, MADD will get in a tizzy about something else... They used to post Accidents, deaths and Alcohol related violations for the county on a sign in my high school. It did nothing. I can't remember one time that I even looked at it and commented on the numbers that wasn't me or my friends joking about how many DUIs we thought belonged to the football team.
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notYou 8:18AM (7/15/2009)
And consumers will still be trying to figure out why Exit #4 isn't a QuadTrippel.
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CB 8:36AM (7/15/2009)
Yeah, let's be angry at the beer company that uses a picture of an exit sign instead of the arseholes that actually get behind the wheel drunk and cause the problems.
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Biscuit 8:39AM (7/15/2009)
I think there's a general lack of sense regarding the impact of taking certain things to the media. If MADD truly thought this somehow encouraged drinking and driving why would they turn it into a national media item?
I'm sure Flying Fish is loving this though. Great advertising for them...actually makes me want to try out the series.
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nick 8:53AM (7/15/2009)
what great publicity or an awesome brewery!
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mikeyt 10:09AM (7/15/2009)
makes perfect sense to me. local brewery using local inspiration. should be interesting if they can somehow map the unique areas with flavors.
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xspeedy 9:10AM (7/15/2009)
Those idiot soccer moms should find something better to do - like get in their SUVs and yap on their cell phone about nothing in particular.
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Heimbachae 9:54AM (7/15/2009)
that's illegal in NJ my friend. you need a hands free headset. and don't even THINK about texting while driving in NJ, oh no no no!!
Epyx 9:14AM (7/15/2009)
I am encouraged to try this beer series; however, I the exit ides is kind of a stupid idea, for reasons totally opposite of those expressed by MADD. The logo with the exit sign is not that appealing to look at and the NJ turnpike is one of the worst things about NJ. I would rather see names of diverse towns with images of those towns. Highlight the shore, the beautiful little towns, the rural countryside, the Pine Lands, NJ is very diverse and most people don't know it. Many think NJ is nothing more than the crapholes of Trenton and Newark and AC.
Just from a creativity standpoint I think there are better graphical representations of the state than exit signs. I get the idea though and MADD is off base with this one.
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Sean Flanagan 9:23AM (7/15/2009)
I'll drink to that.
Epyx 9:16AM (7/15/2009)
This is a moot point - the BIG beers are too big to fit in a cup holder anyway. The brewery did this to prevent drinking and driving. We should be commending them for their good stewardship.
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