(June 29, 2017) Bryan and Nicole Brushmiller had a good day at the Board of License Commissioners on Wednesday, as he was granted permission to expand his Burley Oak brewery to accommodate more people, and she was granted a license for Brewer’s Café, which will take the place of Berlin Coffee House.
Each half of the couple will have to file separate tax returns as a condition of the approval.
Nicole said the concept for the café started with locally roasted coffee beans and will offer a small selection of breakfast and lunch meals, sandwiches and charcuterie, while the Brooklyn Baking Barons will handle most of the cooking.
The café will also offer craft beer and wine from local vendors, as well as selections from vendors acquired via the wholesaler’s license obtained by Burley Oak. The commissioners questioned the specifics of the arrangement, but allowed it to stand.
On Bryan Brushmiller’s side, the commissioners approved a major expansion to the nearly six year-old brewery.
“The tourist market has increased exponentially,” Bryan Brushmiller said. “People walk in, turn around and walk out, and the numbers increase daily. I’m here all based on need and increased demand.”
Brushmiller stated Burley Oak would continue to not serve food at the establishment to push people out into Berlin to find a meal.
He was seeking, and was approved, to expand the outdoor beer garden from 900 square feet to 3,000 square feet and install a stage based on one in Ocean City designed to mitigate noise levels.
He also received approval to convert a portion of an existing building used for storage into a secondary taproom.
The original taproom will remain unchanged.
As for entertainment, Burley Oak was granted an increase from a four-piece to a six-piece band to allow bluegrass and folk groups to perform.
The hours that Brushmiller can host entertainment were also adjusted. Monday through Friday he is allowed outdoor music from 7-10 p.m., where it was only allowed until 7 p.m. previously. On Sundays entertainment can begin at noon and last until 10 p.m.
Brushmiller said he’s never had a noise complaint from adjacent residents or businesses.
“Our neighbors are our customers,” he said, and observed he had nothing to gain by angering his customers.
Each half of the couple will have to file separate tax returns as a condition of the approval.
Nicole said the concept for the café started with locally roasted coffee beans and will offer a small selection of breakfast and lunch meals, sandwiches and charcuterie, while the Brooklyn Baking Barons will handle most of the cooking.
The café will also offer craft beer and wine from local vendors, as well as selections from vendors acquired via the wholesaler’s license obtained by Burley Oak. The commissioners questioned the specifics of the arrangement, but allowed it to stand.
On Bryan Brushmiller’s side, the commissioners approved a major expansion to the nearly six year-old brewery.
“The tourist market has increased exponentially,” Bryan Brushmiller said. “People walk in, turn around and walk out, and the numbers increase daily. I’m here all based on need and increased demand.”
Brushmiller stated Burley Oak would continue to not serve food at the establishment to push people out into Berlin to find a meal.
He was seeking, and was approved, to expand the outdoor beer garden from 900 square feet to 3,000 square feet and install a stage based on one in Ocean City designed to mitigate noise levels.
He also received approval to convert a portion of an existing building used for storage into a secondary taproom.
The original taproom will remain unchanged.
As for entertainment, Burley Oak was granted an increase from a four-piece to a six-piece band to allow bluegrass and folk groups to perform.
The hours that Brushmiller can host entertainment were also adjusted. Monday through Friday he is allowed outdoor music from 7-10 p.m., where it was only allowed until 7 p.m. previously. On Sundays entertainment can begin at noon and last until 10 p.m.
Brushmiller said he’s never had a noise complaint from adjacent residents or businesses.
“Our neighbors are our customers,” he said, and observed he had nothing to gain by angering his customers.