Group To Monitor Noise At Stony Creek Brewery St. Pat's Day Event

BRANFORD, CT — Nearly three months after going public with its complaints against Stony Creek Brewery for noise from its live concerts, neighborhood group Turn It Down! is turning up the heat.

As first reported by Patch in December 2022, the group of Branford residents created a petition demanding that the town stop issuing permits for Stony Creek Brewery to hold "loud music" events. At the time, a litany of noise complaints chronicled by one neighbor of the popular brewery went back more than five years. The live music show that was the last straw, organizers told Patch, was the Oct. 3, 2022 concert held at the brewery featuring the nationally-known band Disco Biscuits.

Patch had contacted Branford Police Deputy Chief John Alves, the department's spokesperson, who confirmed that police did receive around 30 calls on the night of the Disco Biscuits concert. He said that the brewery has always been in compliance with the town and its noise ordinance. But the matter was being looked into. Alves said at the time that Stony Creek Brewery is "permitted by the town to operate as a venue which provides live music, being adjacent to a residential area complaints have been received, especially during their larger outdoor shows."

Following the Patch December 2022 story, the group, with co-founders Pat Dugan and John Hartwell leading the charge, met with the town's Board of Selectmen and also with Brewery founder Ed Crowley.

Since, according to Hartwell, the "problem of brewery noise is not yet resolved."

"We have consistently said that controlling the noise level is our main concern," Hartwell wrote in an email that was forwarded to Patch.

In a phone interview, Hartwell said that the group's goal is "not to shut it down" but rather to, "turn it down."

When contacted in December 2022, Crowley immediately said he was contacting the neighborhood group "to open a dialogue" and "identify accommodations to address their concerns." Crowley said the Brewery is committed to working with neighbors.

The wildly popular brewery has tens of thousands of followers on social media and, as Alves pointed out, "is a successful business model which we value in town."

And Crowley said Stony Creek Brewery is "committed to making a positive impact in the community of Branford."

"We believe that live music events are important and valuable to the community and wish to work with our neighbors to ensure that these events continue to enjoy success and support in the future," he said.

Group to monitor noise levels at Brewery's annual Shenanigans Irish Fest

Now, three months later, Hartwell listed what Crowley has noted to date: the brewery would provide a proposal to limit number and months for music events; that "multiple changes have already occurred to improve communications," that there have been discussions "at length with the promoter and how to change things including certain entertainers not playing at the brewery (Disco Biscuits), placement of stage and placement of speakers;" and that the brewery "retained a professional certified sound engineer with over 30 plus years in this industry who will be working with us before, during, and after the events to minimize the neighbor concerns."

But the group wants more information and more to be done to include: the dates of performances and, the identity of the performers; a list of sound mitigation measures; and, will the Brewery, "commit to staying within the 55dB noise ordinance limit?"

In advance of a planned March 13 meeting with Crowley, his son Ed Crowley Jr., brewery president and Brewery CEO Dan Shannon, the Turn It Down! group is holding a "neighbor's meeting" via Zoom on Thursday.

And given the Brewery has a live music event set for Saturday, the Shenanigans Irish Festival, the group plans to monitor noise levels with decibel meters and asks that residents who are "bothered by the noise levels" call the Brewery. And if it "really bothers you, call the police 203-481-4241 (NOT 911) and make a complaint."

"If you do, make sure they record your name and address as part of the official record, ask them to assign an officer with a calibrated decibel meter, then let us know what happens," Hartwell wrote.

The Stony Creek Brewery's Shenanigans Irish Festival which includes live music, games, dancing, food, and beer, is set for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Advance tickets $20 and include entry to the celebration and "your first beer." Day of door tickets are $25.