Chillwave Tall Tap Sticker.jpg

The new label for Chillwave, the double India Pale Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Co.

(Great Lakes Brewing Co.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Great Lakes Brewing Co. has announced that Alchemy Hour, its seasonal double India Pale Ale, will be renamed Chillwave Double IPA.

The change "is the result of an unforeseen trademark matter involving Craft Brew Alliance, Inc. (CBA) and Widmer Brothers Brewing," Great Lakes Brewing Co. said in a statement.

"We were disappointed that we had to change it, but both parties handled the situation amicably," Great Lakes Brewing Co. co-owner Pat Conway said in the statement.

While the name is changing, the label image will remain almost the same. It depicts a surfer at sunset with the Cleveland skyline in the distance. But the alchemy symbols have been removed, a rep for Great Lakes tells The Plain Dealer, and a cracked ice motif has been added.

I reviewed Alchemy Hour in March, writing in part: "With this one, hops hit your taste buds immediately, with no floral overtones. It packs a punch at 9.4 percent alcohol. Grand Marnier in color, this ale smooths out nicely, and its finish lingers pleasantly."

Two months later I reviewed Widmer Brothers' offering, saying it "starts with a hoppy kick and shows promise. But then, suddenly, any and all flavor drops off, dissipating almost immediately. You get some decent malt character and a bit of caramel, but the flavor-disappearing act is jarring."

It's not uncommon for brewers to face litigation, or threats of legal action, over names of beers. As the number of brewers increase throughout the country, the number of beers being produced also is on the rise. That means more names and labels are created, and duplication is frowned upon.

Dortmunder Gold, Great Lakes' flagship brew, originally was called The Heisman, after John Heisman and namesake of college football's greatest honor. The Conways were contacted early on, and the beer was renamed.

Chillwave Double IPA will be released in March on draft and in four-packs. The recipe will remain the same.

The name is the only thing the two ales have in common.

Great Lakes' Chillwave is an intense ale topping 9 percent in alcohol and measuring 80 International Bitterness Units. It features Mosaic and Nugget hops. Widmer Brothers' Alchemy Ale is an American Pale Ale at 5.8 percent alcohol, 40 IBUs, and has Pale, Caramel, Munich and Vienna Extra Special malts.

Widmer Brothers started in Portland in 1984. It is part of the Craft Brew Alliance, which also encompasses Kona Brewing Co. and Redhook Ale Brewery. A representative for the alliance could not be reached for comment.