"Kurtis from Alberta" made his first celebratory video since claiming to be met with legal action earlier in the week.
Kurtis Stevenson, or “Kurtis from Alberta” returned to his celebratory ways on Friday night after the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena, 3-1.
In the post on X, Stevenson wrote, "Guess it’s time to fire up the blue & white wagon again. YESSSSSSSSSSSIR NOTTTTTTTTHER BEEEER! This cheers is a special one though and isn’t to the buds as usual. It’s to you…. The hockey community! This one’s for you!"
The superfan became well-known online for his beer-chugging videos filmed in his Leafs-themed basement, where he’s decked out head-to-toe in blue and white. He quickly escalated as a fan favorite over the past handful of seasons and built a well-respected social media presence of just under 26,000 followers on X.
But on Tuesday, Stevenson claims he was on the receiving end of a cease-and-desist order, warning him to stop featuring his preferred beer unless it’s from the Leafs’ sponsor, Molson Coors.
He prefaced that the notice came with a direct message: Stevenson was not to post videos in which he chugged his own branded beer, which he promotes in collaboration with SYC Brewing.
In addition to his “K.F.A. Edition” (Kurtis From Alberta) lager, the team presumably flagged his use of Leafs colors and logos in his promotional videos. He has previously released advertisements on TikTok promoting the beer with the Leafs logo stamped throughout the video.
The issue stems from a conflict between his personal branding and the commercial interests of the Leafs’ official sponsors. The Leafs' organization, represented by Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), has exclusive sponsorship deals with companies like Molson Coors, which is the official beer sponsor of the team.
Stevenson took to social media to share the news with his followers in a now-deleted video. “My heart and spirit broke today,” he posted. “Unfortunately, I have essentially been forced to shut down my social media or change who I am.”
He then explained the alleged cease-and-desist, which he says he received via phone call. “I got a call today that I can’t make videos anymore unless I drink the beer of the sponsor of that team… I can’t drink any beer without a certain team’s logo anywhere in the background, I can’t wear a jersey, I can’t wear a helmet or anything unless I drink that certain beer.”
“This is madness,” he said. “I’ve done nothing but support this team through and through. This is the little guy gets kicked in the teeth again by all these big corporations and I won’t stand for it, so I’m not going to be bullied into drinking that beer because I’m told I have to. That’s the most ridiculous thing. I’m in the comfort of my own home in my basement doing nothing but celebrating this team.”
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQPqZN1hOjU[/embed]
He ended the video by saying, “It’s not goodbye … but take care.”
Stevenson’s beer, a lager labeled with his famous catchphrase “Nother Beer,” is a fan-driven collaboration with SYC Brewing, and many Leafs fans quickly came to his defense. Across social media, Leafs nation voiced outrage, some accusing Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) of shutting down a loyal fan for promoting his own small-town creation.
Budweiser Canada also took notice of the uproar. On Wednesday, they shared a post backing the superfan: “Can’t drink that beer,” they wrote, tagging Stevenson with a line over the word ‘Can’t.’ The post closed with a message of solidarity: “Make time for hockey, not red tape.”
In June, Budweiser was named an official league beer in Canada as part of a multiyear Canadian partnership – making Budweiser become an Official Beer of the NHL north of the border. Drawing back to their message on social media, it adds even more significance to their support of the die-hard Leafs fan.
On Thursday evening, Stevenson made a brief return to social media. In a 45-second clip titled “Update,” Stevenson is pictured behind bars with an overlay of Stone Cold Steve Austin of his famous beer counting video. He then appeared on screen, wording “I’ll be back soon,” before facing the camera, winking, and chugging a SYC branded beer from his personal vending machine.
In the replies of the post, Stevenson said, "I’m drinking my SYC beer still and just cheering on the team as always. I’ve made no deals with the devil! Just want to get back to having fun."
After he resurfaced on X on Friday, it seems that the issue has been resolved. Holding true to his promise of returning soon, as he did on Friday, he seems elated to resume his social media presence and fandom.