Norfolk City Council Approves Controversial Military-Themed Brewery

Armed Forces Brewing Company to Open Despite Opposition Over Stakeholder's Alleged Racist and Homophobic Remarks

Norfolk’s City Council approved permits for Armed Forces Brewing Company’s taproom and distribution facility, despite opposition from the community and recommendations from the city’s planning commission and a local neighborhood association to deny the permits.
The brewery, which will be located a few miles from the nation’s largest Navy base, markets itself with politically conservative ads and has faced criticism for its ownership not reflecting the diversity of the U.S. military, veterans, or the liberal-leaning city.
The opposition has largely centered on Robert J. O’Neill, an ex-SEAL who claims to have fatally shot Osama bin Laden during a 2011 raid. O’Neill, who has a 4% stake in the brewery, sits on its board and has served as its brand ambassador.
Critics have cited O’Neill’s August arrest in Frisco, Texas, where he was reported to have used a racial slur, and his response to news that a U.S. Navy sailor who moonlights as a drag queen was helping the military branch’s recruitment efforts.
Despite the controversy, the brewery’s CEO, Alan Beal, insists that everyone is welcome at the brewery, and that its focus is on making great beer and helping veterans and their family members.