ROCHESTER, NY -- It's a craft beer divorce case, and it's getting messy.

One of the co-owners in Rochester's Fairport Brewing Co, has filed a lawsuit against the other, seeking to dissolve the partnership and receive compensation for his stake in the business.

Among the reasons for the break-up, according to the lawsuit filed by Paul Guarracini against Tim Garman: The "Fluffy IPA Incident," the "Facebook Incident" and a product called "Timbucha."

In the lawsuit, Guarracini accuses Garman of "erratic and opaque managerial decisions," of having a "hidden" bank account and of profiting from a separate beverage line that used the resources of the company they held in common. Guarracini said he has been frozen out of Fairport business decisions, such as the recent opening of a brewery/taproom on University Avenue in Rochester, but has been unable to persuade Garman to buy out his share with what he believes would be a fair payment.

"As a result, Guarracini is being forced to effectively bankroll the rampant and secretive actions of Respondent (Garman) while Respondent holds Guarracini's investment hostage," Guarracini says in the lawsuit, filed Sept. 5 in State Supreme Court in Monroe County.

"This action is based on a breakdown between two owners of a small business, and the strongarm, unreasonable and erratic behavior for the business's majority owner (Garman), which drove its minority owner (Guarracini) to want to sever ties," the lawsuit states.

Garman responded with this emailed statement: "While we strongly disagree with Paul's characterization of events, including that of his termination, we recognize that Paul contributed to FBC over the years he was here and so we are committed to reaching an amicable resolution for both him and our company. We think we can reach an outcome that is positive for all parties involved. In the meantime, we will continue to focus on making great products and growing our business."

The lawsuit caps an eventful year for Garman and Guarracini.

Garman has waged a losing battle with the village of Fairport over his efforts to expand a tasting room in an historic district in the heart of the village, closed the company's original brewery site on Turk Hill Road along the Erie Canal, and opened the new brewery on University Avenue in the city.

Guarracini, meanwhile, is working to open his own brewery, Sager Beer Works, in a location not far from Fairport's University Avenue location.

Fairport opened on Turk Hill Road in 2012 as a 50-50 partnership between Garman and Thomas Bullinger. Bullinger left the business at the end of 2012, and Guarracini came in as a partner holding 49 percent of the company to Garman's 51 percent, according to the lawsuit.

At first, according to the lawsuit, Guarracini did most of the brewing while Garman ran the taproom and handled business matters.

Guarracini's lawsuit says one of the early breaks between the two partners came when Garman started his own product line, a version of kombucha he called Timbucha. That line was owned solely by Garman, but was made using equipment, space and logos that belonged to both men. Guarracini says he confronted Garman about the "misappriation" of "FBC equipment, space, art, and good will."

Guarracini also says in the lawsuit he often felt the need to apologize for Garman's "erratic and socially offensive actions" on social media and other marketing efforts.

The lawsuit cites two cases in particular, which it calls the Fluffy IPA incident and the Facebook incident.

In the first case, the lawsuit says, the brewery in 2017 introduced a beer it called Fluffy IPA in cans. Because the beer was thought to be in high demand, Guarracini decided the price would be an above average $16 for a 4-pack. Garman, however, raised the price to $24 per 4-pack without consulting Guarracini, after it had already been advertised at the lower price and customers were already in line to buy it, the lawsuit says.

In the other incident, the lawsuit says, Garman used "FBC's Facebook account to call out, demean, and otherwise attempt to minimize a patron who left a less-than-stellar review on the Brewery's public Facebook page."

In both cases, Guarracini argues he had to apologize and cover for Garman's behavior.

Eventually, Guarracini's lawsuit says, Garman terminated his role as a company manager and restricted his access to company accounts and financial statements.

In April, Garman agreed to allow Guarracini to withdraw from the company, the lawsuit says, but later indicated he could not pay him for his share of the business in the time period agreed to in their partnership (90 days).

"It is now Guarracini's position that Respondent (Garman) is in breach of contract" the lawsuit says. ".. Guarracini fears that the value of his capital account (his share of the business) is in jeopardy due to the erratic management decisions made by Respondent."

Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.