Besieged by a storm of controversy surrounding a sexual-misconduct allegation in Bellingham, Washington, Melvin Brewing is being boycotted by some Seattle bars who are rejecting the company’s ‘bad-boy’ culture.

Here’s the deal…

According to the Seattle Times ‘two dozen bars in Seattle are boycotting beers from the acclaimed Melvin Brewing due to complaints of sexual misconduct, offensive content on its website and its overall “bro culture.”

One of the most heralded breweries to debut in Washington State in recent years, the “GABF Brewery of the Year” has seemingly been caught up in a storm of its own making.

In addition to reports of sexual-misconduct on the part of one of the brewery’s star brewers,  offensive content on the Jackson Hole-headquartered company’s website that made light of tools that therapists use to address child sexual assault has also generated a firestorm of outrage.

The offensive content, which included the joke “show us on the doll where Melvin Brewing touched you,” has since then been scrubbed from the brewery’s website, but the stink remains.

To combat a growing backlash surrounding the sexual misconduct incident, Melvin’s owner Jeremy Tofte flew to Bellingham, Washington to personally apologize for the actions of his employee.

Melvin literally damages itself

The brewer was immediately suspended and also entered into a drug-rehab program, according to Melvin management. He’s currently back at work at the brewery in Wyoming and is attending counseling sessions and submitting urine samples every week and will be for next three years,

But the repercussions from this confluence of bad behavior and ‘bro-culture’ are understandably taking a toll on the company…

Especially in Washington State, where word that Melvin Brewing would be opening a new hub in Bellingham was greeted as one of 2017’s brightest developments.

And with some Seattle bars having gone on the offensive and now refusing to ever purchase beer from the award-winning brewery, Melvin has gone from ‘first to worst,’ in the eyes of many…and damaged its once considerable reputation, by almost deliberately, making all the wrong moves.

All image credits: Melvin Brewing