46 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY December 21-27, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com CHILL Celebrating the season with a strong holiday beer is tradition at many breweries. Consider Delirium Noel and St. Bernardus Christmas Ale from Belgium, or the coveted Samichlaus, brewed annually on Dec. 6 by Schloss Eggenberg in Austria. These are not casual beers. With bold flavors and a wallop of alcohol, they are meant to warm a person on an evening blanketed with newfallen snow, perhaps easing them into a long winter’s nap. The Donna Draper barley wine at Peter B’s in Monterey fits this seasonal custom, weighing in at 12.2-percent alcohol—enough of a punch that it’s poured as a half pint. But patrons are not slighted by the smaller portion. On the contrary, it’s something to savor, offering a sensation of late December gloaming—settling into a comfortable old chair, lighting a pipe and watching wisps of smoke curl toward the ceiling through the flickering glow of a fireplace. Rich notes of coffee and chocolate, the bittersweet savor of dried orange peel, warmed pumpernickel and cherry-scented tobacco flow from the glass. It’s as if brewmaster Natalie Mika was inspired by those old Thomas Nast sketches of Santa Claus, a jolly old man nestled in comfort with a yellowed meerschaum resting on his teeth. It’s a contemplative beer. But heed the warning of the halfsize glass. Don Draper may have made the three-martini lunch a routine, but Donna Draper is one—maybe two—and done. Peter B’s Brewpub, 2 Portola Plaza, Monterey. 649-2699, portolahotel.com. Winter Wonder Peter B’s barley wine honors the tradition of hearty holiday beers. By Dave Faries SEND IDEAS TO: chill@mcweekly.com DAVE FARIES Pacific Grove Hardware • 229 Forest Avenue • 646-9144 Locally Owned and Operated Your Hometown Hardware Store take $5 OFF ANY $25 or more regular items With this ad. Exp 12/31/23 One discount per transaction HAppY HOLidAYs! We’re open 8am-5pm Mon-sat ’09-’23 BEST Hardware Store HAPPY HOLIDAYS German Car Specialist Full service garage with over 40 years local experience. 249 Dela Vina Ave • Monterey 831.373.5355 • www.ccrepairmonterey.com Certified Monterey Bay Green Business Hank Super Mutt | male | approx. 7 years old | 65 pounds. There is no one who makes a holiday outfit look better than Hank! He is just a really good sport who loves to play, run, sleep and simply be around people. He is a very affectionate dog and will happily lean into you for some snuggles! Hank would love to join a home where he can be with his humans as much as possible. peaceofminddogrescue.org P.O. Box 51554, Pacific Grove 831.718.9122 If you’d like to sponsor our next ad, please give us a call In memory of Magnum, this ad is sponsored by C&C Auto Repair KALI GOLD EXTRACTS Locally grown cannabis, locally extracted shatter • sugar badder • crumble GET YOUR LOCAL GOLD RUSH LIC#: C11-0001324 AVAILABLE AT: Canna Cruz SALINAS 1156 Abbott St Higher Level SEASIDE 1440 Canyon Del Rey Blvd Element 7 MARINA 234 Reservation Rd
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