MILLIKEN, Colo. -- A former employee of a Budweiser distributor said a sip of Coors cost him his job.

Ross Hopkins, 41, said he was fired as a supervisor at American Eagle Distributing Company after he was seen by the son-in-law of the company president with a Coors at a Greeley bar.

His apparent disloyalty led to his dismissal two days later. And now Hopkins is suing American Eagle in Weld County District Court for unspecified damages, saying he has a right to drink anything he wants in his off-hours.

In its court response, American Eagle doesn't directly challenge that Hopkins was fired, at least in part, for drinking a Coors in public. But the company said it didn't engage in a "discriminatory or unfair employment practice."

"His conduct was such that it lead to a termination," said Jeff Bedingfield, an attorney for Eagle Distributing.

However, Hopkins said he has records to show he was award a $750 performance bonus the week before he was fired.

"I don't think it was right," Hopkins said. "We all have our own choices."

The trial is set for Oct. 31.