Something is burning at 928 SE 9th Avenue, and it ain't the pulled pork. "Last night, we were circulating a declaration of war against Rogue Nation," says Lorren "LoLo" Lancaster, 1/3 owner of the Green Dragon Bistro and Brewpub, "One person pulled out their Rogue Nation card and burned it at the bar."

Lancaster, some Green Dragon employees, and patrons of the pub are upset at what they consider "sleazy" dealings by majority owner Ed Schwartz, who is attempting to sell the Dragon to Rogue Ales.

The news broke last week on Brewpublic.com that the pub would be sold to Rogue and that it would be closed for several days on November 14th. Today, the pub is still open. The Mercury reached Lancaster there and he confirmed that the taps were still running, and that "Rogue's lawyers have been contacted by my lawyers." For his part, Schwartz, speaking with Brewpublic.com, claims that "nothing has been signed."

Lancaster claims that the deal to sell the Green Dragon was made by Schwartz behind his back after Schwartz had allegedly decided to ditch the business due to the difficulties of pub ownership. Schwartz statements to Brewpublic.com seem to back this up. He cited the frustrations of dealing with the city and suggested the only reason that the pub had remained open was due to his financial support, which has dried up. Still, should a deal go through, Schwartz appears to be concerned about the current Green Dragon employees.

This is no consolation to Lancaster who, nearly finished with his brew system, had already ordered hops for his first batch of beer before finding out about Schwartz's intentions. "This was my dream, to brew my own beer," he told the Mercury, saying how disappointed he was in an alleged offer made by Schwartz to give him $15,000 from the sale if Lancaster was a "nice guy."

"I've put in $62,000 into this and an assload of work," Lancaster explained. So, he and his crew of Dragonistas, calling themselves "the Family of the Dragon," do not plan on going easily. Along with the declaration of war (reprinted in its entirety after the jump), Lancaster's lawyer plans on fighting the deal based on what he sees as Schwartz's lack of good faith and intention to keep the business open.

The Mercury is attempting to get in contact with Ed Schwartz so he can share his side of the story. The post will be updated as soon as we reach him.

In other news, which may or may not be related to the Green Dragon saga, Kieran Sienkiewicz, once head distiller at neighboring (connected) Integrity Spirits has been laid off. Integrity and the Green Dragon have worked closely ever since their inception, even planning to share spent grain from the brewing process for use in creating whiskey. It's interesting to note that Rogue also has a distillation arm, making both rum and gin. A property with an attached distillery already working may go a long ways in sweetening a deal.

Declaration of War

We the minority owners of The Green Dragon, the little people, the Founders Club, the loyal patrons who love the Dragon so, openly declare war on the oppressive forces of the Rogue Nation. We make this Declaration in response to Rogue's direct attack upon the Dragon.

For those who do not know, Rogue is seeking to execute a hostile take over of the Dragon. This takeover is against the wishes of the masses. Our pockets may not be deep, but our hearts are, and our numbers many.

I implore you to visit Rogue's website and read their creed, their declaration of independence and what they believe in. Their creed makes many claims about the beliefs and values of the Nation. If you read the creed you will see that the Nation's actions are in direct violation of their creed. Due to the Nation's direct violation of their creed we request that all members of the Nation, who believe in what Rogue allegedly stands for, to stand with us in our new revolution. We encourage you to act in some sort of symbolic protest. Perhaps all members of the Nation who are against the Treasonous acts of their leaders, mail or deliver their Nation ID's back to Rogue. Ghandi was at the forefront of non-violence protest, the art of Satyagraha-the résistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience. Join us!

Rogue claims to be a small revolution. They aspire to be a successful organization "without being big." Rogue claims they will "stand up to the big guy trying to bully his way into whatever business or territory he wants." They claim Rogue will be "David." In Rogue's "Fundamental Agreement" they make many claims such as: "they will be honest on the battlefield, and most important "cut out the BS."

The Nation further believes as stated in their "Declaration of Independence" that the members of their nation "are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these Freedom of Expression, Absence of Bull Shit, Variety, and the pursuit of Beer with Taste. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituting among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the Consumers: that when any Form of Government becomes destructive to taste, Expression, Quality, or Fun, it is the right of the Consumers to alter or to abolish it and to institute a new Government." Further, they declare that all members of their Nation shall "of Right ought to be Free and Independent." Well Rogue, we the Consumers, we the family of Green Dragon, wish to abolish you from our nation.

The leaders of the Nation need to take a long look in the mirror. There they will find a bunch of hypocrites. They are a large multi-national corporation, seeking to take down the little guy. I am certain this backdoor sneak attack, an undercover theft of the Dragon, is not "honesty on the battlefield." The Dragon's alleged crime: trying to build a place for the neighborhood, a place where friends and family can drink good beer and food at reasonable prices. We the family of the Dragon truly represent David and we will take down the Goliath known as Rogue. If they truly believe the claims they make on their website, they will lay their arms down and leave the battlefield. If you, the leaders of the Nation surrender now, we many revolutionaries will take no further action, you will be allowed to return to your homes. However, you will get no spoils of war from us.

Just like the founding fathers based at the Original Green Dragon, who formed a revolution to crush the British, we also will spill Rogue's Tea. The Founding Fathers of the United States wrote in their Declaration of Independence: "When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal stationed to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the cause which impel them to separation." (July 4, 1776). We, the many of the Dragon, are equally stationed, our opinions dictate and require that you remain separate. Two separate nations free to do what they desire.

This aggression will not stand....man ("The Dude")

"Let us cry havoc and release the [dragons] of war." (William Shakespeare and his dogs)

Signed-

The Many. The Proud. The family of the Dragon.