Brewing Co. can serve hard alcohol

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- The City Council voted Monday to allow the Newport

Beach Brewing Co. to serve hard alcohol, overturning a Planning

Commission decision last month.

“I haven’t had a drink of hard liquor in my life -- I’m Southern

Baptist,” said Councilwoman Norma Glover. “[But] this seems like a

reasonable request.”

The Planning Commission denied the restaurant’s request, concluding

that the addition would contribute to an already high-crime rate and high

concentration of liquor licenses in Cannery Village.

But restaurant representatives and patrons managed to convince council

members otherwise.

“We are not a bar that serves food, we are a restaurant that brews

beer,” said Sean Needelman, an operations manager.

The Brewing Co.’s revenue fell significantly this year, said

Needelman, claiming that the drop was in part because the eatery could

not provide cocktails with dinner. The restaurant, which caters to

families, businessmen as well as a younger crowd, needs to be able to

provide the same service as competing establishments, he said. Right now

the Brewing Co. only offers beer and wine.

Moreover, others mentioned that with the recent demise of the Cannery

and Snug Harbor, it would be unfortunate to let another favored

establishment slip away.

After a convincing argument, the license was eventually granted in a

6-1 vote, with Councilman John Noyes dissenting.

Before the vote, however, Councilwoman Jan Debay wanted to ensure that

if the owners change or if the serving of hard liquor adds to the area’s

problems, the council could revoke the license.