By Keith Regan, Contributing Writer
Westborough—The Board of Selectmen Oct. 12 asked the owner of Cold Harbor Brewery to do more work on his plans before it decides on his request to add a brewer’s pouring license after concerns were raised about seating being added—something not shown on the originally approved plans.
Will Oliveira already has a farmer brewer’s license for the facility at 108 Milk St., which enables him to offer only two-ounce samples to customers, who can then purchase beer in growlers to carry away. The new license would enable larger samples—up to four ounces—as well as full pint glasses.
Cold Harbor sells beer brewed from locally sourced products and Oliveira said small-scale pouring is becoming “part of the business model” for small microbreweries such as his nationwide.
“You come in, have a sample of a bunch of different beers, buy one pint of beer and then buy a growler and go on your way,” he told the selectmen.
He added that the idea is not to make the brewery a place where people congregate to drink and said the fact that the brewery closes at 7 p.m. on Friday nights and 6 p.m. on Saturday should alleviate some concerns about it becoming an issue.
Currently, Oliveira said, samples are consumed at small tables surrounded by stools.
But Police Chief Alan Gordon said having no seating inside the tasting room would be his preference. And Building Commissioner Tin Htway said there are no tables or chairs on the plans approved for the original use.
“There was no seating when it was inspected and that’s how we want to keep it,” Htway said, adding there is “very little parking” in the parking lot for the building, which houses a number of other tenants.
Selectmen continued a public hearing on the new license proposal until their next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
In other business, Town Manager Jim Malloy told the board that work is scheduled to begin on the East Main Street (Route 30) bridge within a week. The work, which will include painting the bridge and installing new warning signs about its low height, which will be done mainly at night, Malloy said and is scheduled to be completed by Sunday, Nov. 1.
