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Good beer and free speech both prevail in this uncharacteristically feel-good First Amendment story. First, Maryland's Flying Dog Brewery won in its battle with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, after the agency tried to ban the sale of Flying Dog's delicious, Belgian-style IPA because of the brew's name: Raging Bitch.

The liquor commission also objected to the beer label's artwork, designed by Ralph Steadman, best known for illustrating Hunter S. Thompson's books and articles.

Flying Dog sued the commission in 2009, but the case didn't come to a close until last year, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit sided with the brewery, saying Michigan officials could be held liable for violating the brewery's First Amendment rights, and Flying Dog could pursue damages for lost sales during the ban.

Now, Flying Dog has announced that it will use the damages received in that case to found the "1st Amendment Society," a non-profit dedicated to awareness-raising and advocacy around free-speech issues and organizing events that promote "the arts, journalism and civil liberties."

Flying Dog will launch the organization with a May 31 event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., featuring constitutional lawyer Alan Gura. Some of the society's first orders of business will be establishing a scholarship at the University of Maryland’s College of Journalism and hosting a banned-book club this summer at Flying Dog Brewery.

Chizzang wrote:

I thought Michigan was all about Freedom and Ted Nugent
What is this nonsense..?

AZGrizFan wrote:Hell, their beer names are the only reason I BUY their beer....best beer names on the planet.

89Hen wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:Hell, their beer names are the only reason I BUY their beer....best beer names on the planet.

It was the only reason I didn't buy it for a long time.

89Hen wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:Hell, their beer names are the only reason I BUY their beer....best beer names on the planet.

It was the only reason I didn't buy it for a long time... and it's the best beer on the planet.

89Hen wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:Hell, their beer names are the only reason I BUY their beer....best beer names on the planet.

It was the only reason I didn't buy it for a long time... and it's the best beer on the planet.

JohnStOnge wrote:Free speech stuff aside, that IS a pretty ugly label:



I don't know if I'd want to drink a beer with that label on it.

JohnStOnge wrote:Free speech stuff aside, that IS a pretty ugly label:



I don't know if I'd want to drink a beer with that label on it.

CID1990 wrote:What if they called it "Flaming Homo"?

Does everybody think the outcome would have been the same?

CID1990 wrote:What if they called it "Flaming Homo"?

Does everybody think the outcome would have been the same?

89Hen wrote:The names and labels seemed contrived to me. Like they were trying too hard to be cool. After drinking it, I don't care if they call it Bloody Tampon. The beer is too good to care.

JohnStOnge wrote:Free speech stuff aside, that IS a pretty ugly label:



I don't know if I'd want to drink a beer with that label on it.

Ibanez wrote:

JohnStOnge wrote:Free speech stuff aside, that IS a pretty ugly label:



I don't know if I'd want to drink a beer with that label on it.

Seriously?

Ibanez wrote:

JohnStOnge wrote:Free speech stuff aside, that IS a pretty ugly label:



I don't know if I'd want to drink a beer with that label on it.

Seriously?

Cluck U wrote:

Ibanez wrote:
Seriously?

Why does that surprise you?

JSO has proven that, in his world, outward appearance is FAR more important than what is actually within.

nd would you really not drink a beer because of the lable?

JSO has proven that, in his world, outward appearance is FAR more important than what is actually within.