Let cooler heads prevail in beer spat

At a time of so much contentiousness over such issues as continued joblessness and the lingering recession, immigration woes, the devastating flooding in Pakistan and other serious topics, it seems a little silly to be preoccupied by a beer brouhaha.

We are referring to the Pawcatuck-based Cottrell Brewing Co.'s quest to serve suds at next month's Taste of Mystic food festival, over the objections of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce and a local Budweiser distributor.

Lenny Levine, president of Levine Distributing in Norwich, paid $10,000 for the exclusive rights to serve Bud at the festival and faults Cottrell Brewing Co. owner Charles Buffum Jr. and Mr. Buffum's distributor for failing to make their own deal with the Mystic chamber, the Taste of Mystic sponsor.

Mr. Buffum says he never had a chance to make such an arrangement, but Tricia Cunningham, the chamber president, says a contract sent by first-class mail earlier this year was never returned.

Now state Rep. Diana Urban, D-North Stonington, has entered the fray, calling on Ms. Cunningham to allow Cottrell sales.

Frankly, we're not sure who is right, but the Taste of Mystic is one of the chamber's largest fundraisers and it can't afford to be distracted by this controversy. All parties need to belly up to the bar, down a glass or two and walk away with an agreement.