Agency initially rejected the name because polygamy is illegal. The vendor is appealing the decision.

Plans to sell the Utah-made Polygamy Porter craft beer in North Carolina hit a roadblock from state alcohol regulators.

The problem?

The staff of the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission rejected its name. The commission enforces state alcohol laws and enacts alcohol regulations.

“Polygamy is illegal. Therefore these products will not be approved,” says a May 28 letter to the Utah Brewers Cooperative of Salt Lake City.

The cooperative’s Wasatch Brewery brand makes Polygamy Porter (“Why have just one?” and “Take some home to the wives!” says a blurb promoting it) and Polygamy Nitro Porter (infused with nitrogen gas, its blurb says “Meet the sister-wife of our classic brew”).

A map on the cooperative’s website shows it sells its products in 19 states from Nevada to the Mississippi River and Wisconsin.

The cooperative has appealed the staff’s decision to reject the “Polygamy” name. The matter is scheduled to be heard by the North Carolina ABC Commission when it meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Raleigh.

The commission also is to consider whether to allow the Rebel Spirits wine supplier to sell wine in North Carolina under the name “Hello Kitty.” The issue is that other distribution companies owned the rights to sell wine under that name here, according to ABC Commission documents.

The ABC Commission office has letters dated in April and May that say the other distributors have released those rights, but the staff on June 14 rejected Rebel Spirits’ request.

Staff writer Paul Woolverton can be reached at pwoolverton@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3512.