TTAB Test: Are These Two Word + Design Marks Confusable For Beer?

The USPTO refused to register the mark shown below left for "beer" on the ground of likelihood of confusion with the registered mark on the right, for "Brewed malt-based alcoholic beverage in the nature of a beer." On appeal, applicant argued that the buyers of craft beer are sophisticated, that its logo is dominated by its well-known house mark MAD TREE, and that BLACK FOREST is highly suggestive of a type of beer. How do you think this came out? In re MadTree Brewing, LLC, Serial No. 86608588 (November 28, 2018) [not precedential] (Opinion by Judge Karen Kuhlke).

Because applicant's "beer" encompasses registrant's malt-based beverage in the nature of beer, the Board deemed the goods legally identical. It therefore presumed that they travel in the same channels of trade to the same classes of consumers.