Sam Smith's threatens Cropton over charity beer logo

Cropton Brewery could be forced out of business if rival Yorkshire brewer Sam Smith's wins a legal case to stop it using the Yorkshire white rose on a beer to raise money for wounded troops.

Sam Smith's has issued a writ seeking an injunction against the use of the Yorkshire Rose on Cropton's Yorkshire Warrior beer, which raised over £10,000 for the Yorkshire Regiment last year.

The Tadcaster based Sam Smith's believes Cropton's use of the white rose is too similar to its trademark emblem, used since the 1960s.

But Cropton founder Phil Lee said he got permission from the Yorkshire Regiment to use its emblem — a lion carrying the standard of St George above a white rose — on the beer and pump clips.

The case is set to reach the High Court on 4 July next year. "It is appropriate it is Independence Day," said Lee. "My brother served in the first Gulf War and all we wanted to do was to raise some money for injured soldiers.

"We are limited by what we can brew and what we can raise but it is a worthwhile cause. We won't back down — it is absolute rubbish."

Lee said that he had offered to meet Sam Smith's owner Humphrey Smith on a number of occasions. "We could have sorted this out over a couple of pints," he said.

Sam Smith's has offered to let Cropton use the logo on a licence. "I have ploughed a considerable amount into this financially," said Lee.

"If we lose I will go bankrupt, my family will lose its home and the brewery will shut — it has been family run since 1986."

Lee is hoping Smith will see sense. "Everyone makes mistakes and hopefully the case will be dropped and he will make a sizeable donation to the Yorkshire Regiment."

Sam Smith's declined to comment.