Beer drinker sues over ad

Most people who don’t care for a beer they’ve purchased simply switch brands.

Brendan Peacock goes a bit further. He sues.

The 37-year-old Sacramento, Calif., man filed a federal lawsuit last week against Pabst Brewing Co., alleging false advertising in the sales of its Olympia beer products.

At issue, which Peacock’s lawsuit says is important enough to be considered a class-action matter covering all drinkers of the beer, is the slogan “It’s the water.”

Peacock’s suit says the beer company falsely implies that the beer comes from artesian spring water in Tumwater, Wash., when, in fact, the company brews Olympia in the San Gabriel Valley city of Irwindale, Calif.

“It is unclear where the water is actually from,” the lawsuit claims, adding that parts of Irwindale are served by a utility that chlorinates its water and that the area’s water supply “has been contaminated by industrial solvents in the past.”

Peacock, who has brought two similar suits in the past — one against the 21st Amend- ment Brewery Cafe, another against a guacamole maker — declined to comment when reached on his cellphone.

Pabst also did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.

Peacock’s suit says he bought the beer because of the Olympia marketing efforts and that he was “de- ceived” by the advertising.

Peacock, whose suit de- scribes him as “a beer, and craft beer, consumer,” apparently takes his beer very seriously.