In an effort to incorporate more Berlin products into downtown events, elected officials agreed to allow liquor sales at Berlin Jazz, Blues, Wine & Brews in May.
The Nighthawks perform for the crowd at the 2023 Berlin Jazz, Blues, Wine & Brews event downtown.File photo
By Charlene Sharpe, Associate Editor
In an effort to incorporate more Berlin products into downtown events, elected officials agreed to allow liquor sales at Berlin Jazz, Blues, Wine & Brews in May.
The Berlin Town Council voted 4-1 to allow the Berlin Chamber of Commerce to sell mixed drinks made with liquor from Forgotten 50, the new distillery on Old Ocean City Bouvelvard, during the May event. While the chamber initially requested to sell the pre-mixed drinks at multiple events, officials said they wanted to see how the first one went before approving others.
“I’m not comfortable approving all four of these events without knowing how the first one goes,” Councilman Steve Green said.
Ryan Nellans, executive director of the chamber, approached the council Monday asking for approval to add mixed drinks to the menu of beer and wine already sold by chamber representatives during Berlin Jazz, Blues, Wine & Brews, Small Town Throw Down, Berlin Fiddlers Convention and Oktoberfest. He said that the chamber planned to buy pre-mixed drinks made by staff at Forgotten 50 with the establishment’s liquor. He said this would be a way the chamber could include another Berlin business in downtown events. He said the amount of alcohol in the drinks would be less than 15%, in line with what was already served.
“I’m hearing beer wine and liquor,” Councilwoman Shaneka Nichols said. “I feel like I’m almost at the club.”
Councilman Dean Burrell asked if the addition of liquor was really necessary or if Nellans was doing it to include additional businesses in downtown events.
“That’s the objective,” Nellans said.
Green said he understood the concerns about liquor and suggested approving just the first event for now and then reviewing how it went after the fact.
“I think that’s a good move forward,” Councilman Jack Orris said.
Ryan Nellans, the executive director of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, addresses the mayor and council during a meeting Feb. 26. Nellans asked for the ability to serve mixed drinks at several chamber-sponsored events.
Charlene Sharpe/Bayside Gazette
Mayor Zack Tyndall asked if the public perception of Berlin would change if liquor was served at events.
“My hope is it has zero impact,” Nellans said, adding that that chamber took the concerns mentioned as seriously as the elected officials did.
Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director, said that because the drinks were pre-mixed and would likely be served in a large container like a keg, the people serving it at the event would not be determining how much alcohol was included.
Cindi Krempel, president of the chamber’s board of directors, said mixed drinks were already served in restaurants on Main Street. She noted that beer and wine these days also had higher alcoholic by volume.
“Wines have between 12 and 15%,” she said. “I think this is a good opportunity for the chamber to make a little more money.”
Representatives of Forgotten 50 indicated the drinks could be made with an ABV of 10%. Krempel added that chamber volunteers serving alcohol at events were trained in responsible alcoholic beverage service.
Wells made it clear the town didn’t market events in a way that encouraged overdrinking.
“It’s not an event that’s going to be promoted as a drunk fest,” she said. “All of our events, they’re upscale events. Not trashy.”
The council voted 4-1, with Burrell opposed, to approve liquor sales for the May jazz and blues event.