The other 'F word': Brewer responds to Starbucks over beer name

A Missouri brewery is having the last laugh after its witty response to a cease-and-desist letter from Starbucks Corp. (Nasdaq: SBUX) went viral.

According to a report from NPR, the coffee company's bone of contention, Missouri brewer Jeff Britton was told in a Dec. 9 letter, was the use of the name "Frappicino" to describe a stout served at Exit 6 Brewery, a brewpub in a tidy strip mall in Cottleville, northwest of St. Louis.

The name too closely resembled Starbucks' Frappuccino drink and the brewery was given 14 days to respond, according to NPR.

Britton took the opportunity to lambast the absurdity of the situation, penning a humorous response letter – addressed to Mr. Bucks and in which he refers to the Frappicino and Frappuccino drinks as "the F word"  – which took the Internet by storm during the past week.

Saying he could confirm the sale of three Frappicino beers, Britton also enclosed a check for $6 – Starbucks' portion of the profits – noting "small business owners need to stick together."

Read the full letter from Starbucks and Britton's response at NPR.