UPDATE: Scofflaw has issued a statement, saying they are "outraged" by the press release
Scottish craft brewery BrewDog has canceled planned events with Atlanta’s Scofflaw Brewing after the latter’s marketing stunt backfired.
Scofflaw, which was set to participate in a series of events this weekend along with BrewDog, issued a press release to publications in the UK announcing that the "self confessed trailer trash brewery" would get the UK "beered up redneck style completely free of charge", The Scotsman reports. It added: "But there is a hook...you have to be a Trump supporter."
After backlash on social media, BrewDog tweeted that it had no prior knowledge of Scofflaw’s promotion and that it would be canceling planned events and “sending all the beer back.”
The Scofflaw release was announced without our knowledge or consent.
— BrewDog (@BrewDog) September 27, 2018
We are in no way aligned with their position and we will of course be cancelling all the events and sending all of the beer back.
We care about beer and people. Not hate.
BrewDog then tweeted that it would run a promotion offering free beer to anyone who “supports LOVE not hate.”
Following Scofflaw's Fake News earlier, we're going to run a very real promotion today - one free beer for anyone who supports LOVE not hate.
— BrewDog (@BrewDog) September 27, 2018
Simply tell our staff, and enjoy a pint of Punk IPA, or any Headliner on us.
For its part, Scofflaw tweeted that it also had no prior knowledge of the promotion and was working with its PR company to “fix this error.”
We did not approve or release said message and we are working with our PR firm @FRANKPUBLICITY to fix this error. This post was done on our behalf without our consent or knowledge. More details and official release to come.
— Scofflaw Brewing Co. (@ScofflawBrewing) September 27, 2018
Brewdog and Scofflaw initially announced a partnership in late 2017, giving Scofflaw access to the brewing and canning operation at BrewDog USA's new state-of-the-art U.S. headquarters near Columbus, Ohio.
The agreement, which was reached by James Watt, co-founder and CEO at BrewDog, and Matt Shirah, co-founder and president of Scofflaw, includes an expansion that will increase Scofflaw’s capacity to 30,000 barrels annually at its Atlanta brewery.
Scofflaw is the latest Atlanta brewery to come under fire of late due to political issues. Monday Night Brewing received some negative attention on social media earlier this month after agreeing to host an event for Republican gubernatorial candidate Brain Kemp.
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