Launnie or Lonnie Mona Foma debate: cast your vote
It's the debate that's divided the city.
The popular Launnie Longneck Lager might have returned to Launceston as part of Mona Foma, but as popular as the beer has proven, it's also been controversial.
To settle it once and for all, event organisers have put it to the people for a vote - should it be spelt Launnie or Lonnie?
Now, almost a week in and the debate is heating up.
VOTE HERE:
On Wednesday Crown Cellars hosted a portable voting portal, with customers encouraged to have their say by dropping a beer cap into either a Launnie jar, or a Lonnie jar.
For Karen Docters van Leeuwen, of Hobart, it was a "clear" choice of Launnie.
"It just looks better I think," she said.
"It's more pleasing on the eye. The 'au' just looks more classy, but that's just my opinion."
However for James Marshall, who recently moved to Launceston from the NSW Central Coast, Lonnie was the only option.
For Karen Docters van Leeuwen, of Hobart, it was a "clear" choice of Launnie.
"I am pretty well illiterate," he said. "So for me, I think Lonnie is just easier to say and to spell."
Crown Cellars manager Ryan Chandler said the debate had become pretty heated, but said it was hard to pick a clear front-runner for a preference.
"It's been full on. Everyone has an opinion and everyone thinks their opinion is right," he said.
"I would say it's been about 50-50.
"But either way, people are pretty adamant of which one it should be."
Variations of the two bottle designs will be available at the Gorge for the festival's King Ubu production on the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights.
Votes on the correct spelling are being compiled through The Examiner's online poll, Moo Brew's social media, or by purchasing one of the limited edition brews from venues around Launceston.
Crown Cellars manager Ryan Chandler prefers Launnie.
As of Wednesday, The Examiner's poll was almost even with 54 per cent of votes going to Launnie, and 46 per cent of votes going to Lonnie.
The Examiner also reached out to members of the community to hear their thoughts on the topic.
Launceston Chamber of Commerce chief executive Neil Grose said while he wasn't one for abbreviations, he preferred the phonetic spelling of Lonny.
Restaurateur Kim Seagram said Launnie made more sense because of the way Launceston was spelled.
However, Northern Tasmania Development Corporation chief executive Mark Baker said it had always been Lonnie for him.
"The more help we give mainlanders to say Lonnie or 'Lon-ceston', the better," he said.
The winning name will be announced on January 18.