27 CFR § 7.146 - Geographical names.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t27/s7.146"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "27 CFR § 7.146 - Geographical names."
title_number: 27
title_name: "Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms"
section_number: "7.146"
section_name: "Geographical names."
chapter_name: "ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "ALCOHOL"
part_number: "7"
part_name: "LABELING AND ADVERTISING OF MALT BEVERAGES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "27 U.S.C. 205 and 207."
regulatory_source: "T.D. TTB-176, 87 FR 7605, Feb. 9, 2022, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "7"
---


# 7.146 Geographical names.

(a) Geographical names for distinctive types of malt beverages (other than names found under paragraph (b) of this section to have become generic) shall not be applied to malt beverages produced in any place other than the particular region indicated by the name unless:

(1) In direct conjunction with the name there appears the word “type” or the word “American”, or some other statement indicating the true place of production in lettering substantially as conspicuous as such name; and

(2) The malt beverages to which the name is applied conform to the type so designated. The following are examples of distinctive types of beer with geographical names that have not become generic; Dortmund, Dortmunder, Vienna, Wien, Wiener, Bavarian, Munich, Munchner, Salvator, Kulmbacher, Wurtzburger, Pilsen (Pilsener and Pilsner): *Provided,* That notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, beer which is produced in the United States may be designated as “Pilsen,” “Pilsener,” or “Pilsner” without further modification, if it conforms to such type.

(b) Only such geographical names for distinctive types of malt beverages as the appropriate TTB officer finds have by usage and common knowledge lost their geographical significance to such an extent that they have become generic shall be deemed to have become generic, *e.g.,* India Pale Ale.

(c) Except as provided in § 7.64(b), geographical names that are not names for distinctive types of malt beverages shall not be applied to malt beverages produced in any place other than the particular place or region indicated in the name.