Liquor License Commission Meeting
Approved a Section 12 All-Alcohol license for Forrest Hill Brewing Company (Mill 77) at 77 Elm Street; commissioners also agreed in principle to revise one-day liquor license fees to $50 for wine/malt and $0 for all-alcohol effective Jan. 1, 2026.
The Liquor License Commission convened and continued the hearing on Forrest Hill Brewing Company, LLC (DBA Mill 77) at 77 Elm Street for a new Section 12 All-Alcohol license. An abutter expressed concerns about parking, neighborhood character, and the potential for the space to operate more like a pub given higher-alcohol offerings; she also noted that some nearby property owners were not included on the abutter notice. Commissioners discussed licensing requirements with reference to ABCC guidance (confirming no in-house kitchen is required for a Section 12 license), heard the applicant describe private parking and efforts to direct patrons to municipal lots, and discussed possible signage and other mitigation. The commission voted 3-0 to approve the Section 12 All-Alcohol license for Mill 77.
The commission also reviewed a pricing comparison for one-day liquor licenses from neighboring communities and reached consensus to set one-day fees at $50 for wine/malt and $0 for all-alcohol effective January 1, 2026, aligning the change with the ABCC renewal cycle; staff was asked to research whether formal council action or additional steps are required to implement the change. Commissioners named Derek Balaam as chair (3-0) and agreed to reconvene in September, with an agenda item to review 2026 annual license renewals.