Big Sky Brewing, Co., sues Anheuser-Busch

ST. LOUIS — A Montana-based craft brewer is suing the world’s largest beer-maker, alleging that popular YouTube videos for Bud Light violate its trademarked phrase, “Hold my beer and watch this.”

Big Sky Brewing, Co., filed its lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch in U.S. District Court in Missoula. The company says it has used the slogan since at least 2004, and has a trademark.

At issue are three videos on Bud Light’s official YouTube site created by actor John Krasinski, best known for playing Jim Halpert on NBC’s The Office, and his business partner, Danny Stessen. The videos depict odd things that might happen after asking someone to hold your beer. In one, a woman celebrating her 100th birthday feigns death after asking a young man to hold her beer, then after the man and his friends leave, she high-fives and laughs with another elderly woman.

The videos debuted about a month ago and, as of Tuesday, had nearly 5 million views. The videos are online only and do not air on television.

Big Sky’s suit includes photos of cans of one of its brews, the back reading “Hold my beer and watch this.”