BIZ BITES:

Giuseppe Lama, a veteran of the luxury resort industry, has been named as the managing director of the Resort at Pelican Hill, the Irvine Co.’s lavish Newport Coast resort that is slated to open its first phase in November.

Lama, who was born in Italy and got his start working at boutique hotels in Europe, will oversee the resort’s restaurant, catering, weddings and culinary operations as well as services for the rental villas. His tenure will begin this month, and the Irvine Co. plans to appoint a general manager for the resort soon.

“Our intent is to create a destination that is as exceptional as its spectacular coastal setting,” Ralph Grippo, president of the Irvine Co.’s resort division, said in a release. “We selected Giuseppe in order to ensure that every aspect of our culinary, catering and wedding operations are the finest they can be. He is a consummate professional, with great passion for what he does.”

Lama most recently served as general manager of the Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa and has also worked for the Westin corporation and the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. He graduated from Oxford Polytechnic with a degree in hotel management and administration and attended the Hotel College in Bellagio, Italy.

Newport brewer wins national award for bourbon-flavored beer

The Newport Beach Brewing Co. won a bronze medal this month in the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

The restaurant and brewery, on Newport Boulevard, took third in the Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beer category for “Relapse,” a bourbon-flavored beer aged in an oak barrel. The brewery was honored along with other winners at the Colorado Convention Center Oct. 13.

“We pride ourselves on brewing various styles of brews without sacrificing quality or drinkability,” Kirk Roberts, the brew master for the restaurant, said in a release.

An international panel of brewing experts selected the winners out of 2,832 entries received from 474 American breweries.

— Michael Miller