SUN Last-Minute Gift Guide 2016

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BY JOE PAYNE

Local beer, spirits, and wine companies provide libations that make great last-minute gifts [10]

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SEASON OF Get some

GEAR

Look no further than makers of local beer, wine, and spirits for some inebriating last-minute gift ideas

BY JOE PAYNE

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eer drinkers across the Central Coast have been enamored with brews coming out of the Firestone Walker Brewing Company for years. For the Firestone fan on your list this year, you can’t go wrong with a bottle of their wares. The brewery has also received accolades from the worldwide brewing community for its signature German-style beer made right here in California, so even beer lovers who aren’t local will probably enjoy Firestone brews.

Firestone appeals to many different kinds of beer lovers, with its hoppy Union Jack IPA, to the darker Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout, or the famous 805 blonde ale, there is something to appeal to every palate. And in that vein, the merchandise that Firestone Walker sells expresses the character of each of its beers, explained marketing manager Jamie Smith.

For the Firestone fan with a fridge already well-stocked with their beer, some signature clothing or accessories is a welcome gift.

“The 805 is driven predominantly by lifestyle kind of wear, motorcycle, surf, skate, and car inspired type of stuff,” Smith said, “and then Firestone is really driven by the beers that we

A

s the year winds down and the holidays ramp up, things can get a little stressful. And 2016 wasn’t an easy year, whether you’re recovering from election season or a favorite celebrity death (RIP Gene Wilder!).

Thankfully, once Christmas and New Year’s Eve finally arrive, the time comes to relax, and most of all, celebrate.

And what pairs perfectly with any celebration? Libations from Central Coast brewers, winemakers, and distillers.

But, instead of hitting up a large chain store for the usual bottles, why not cast an eye to the work of local masters of the craft? There are lots of area business men and women brewing up some cheer in the form of boozy beverages that will make a perfect addition to your holiday celebration.

If your seasonal soirées are already well-stocked with libations and you’re simply seeking a perfect last-minute stocking stuffer for that favorite imbiber, never fear. Think branded gear from breweries like Firestone Walker or Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company. Need a no-fuss but thoughtful gift for your party host? Relax. We’ve got you covered.

The Sun’s Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide puts the focus on the boozy businesses that can help you please anyone on your list. We’ve assembled just a few examples of our favorites, from suds to gift certificates. So grab a pint and give it a look with your favorite libation lover in mind!

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIRESTONE WALKER BREWING COMPANY

WRAPPED IN GLASS: The Firestone Walker Brewing Company sells tons of gear on its website and in its taprooms, including its line of 805 lifestyle clothing, but nothing showcases the gift of Firestone Walker beers like their custom glassware.

release, so they’re more beer focused.”

Firestone Walker Brewing Company sells.

The Firestone Walker merchandise line includes men’s and The various glasses include the signature logo and specific women’s wear. There’s literally a shirt for every brew, so a friend coat of arms for certain brews. The range of shapes they come in or family member with a preference can get a T-shirt with that pair with the beers as well, Smith explained. There are rounded beer’s coat of arms emblazoned under the Firestone name. tulip glasses, tall and skinny Pilsner glasses, bulging “nonic” For the diehard fans, you can take it a step further and get several style glasses, and the standard pint glass. They are all designed to pieces of merchandise that correspond with their favorite beer. There’s showcase the beers to please multiple senses, he said. a colorful beer koozie for each brew, which, when paired with a “It’s about presenting the beer in a way that makes it look matching shirt and hat, can accessorize a superfan to the max. beautiful,” Smith said. “But it’s also about the “To us, it’s an expression of the people and the effect it has on your palate, especially with the Find it at Firestone beer they drink, so we want to provide a bunch of tulip glasses that have the bowl in them. With the The Firestone Walker Brewing different options for them to express themselves Company sells clothes and hoppier beers it allows you to get those hop aromas and show their loyalty to Firestone and 805,” Smith gear at firestonebeer.com and before you drink the beer, which is a huge part of said. “It’s really driven by what our fans want, and 805beer.com or at the Taproom enjoying a beer, smelling it. we want to be on the cutting edge of apparel that and Barrel Works in Buellton at “It’s all part of that enjoyment and enhancement we offer.”

620 McMurray Road, Buellton. of the beer experience,” he added, “not only the For Smith, his favorite category of merchandise More info: 697-4777. taste and the smell, but the look of it too.” is the extensive selection of glassware that

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Holiday SPIRITS

ENJOY GIN? Ascendant Spirits in Solvang produces the award-winning Calyx Gin, which can be used to mix a Christmas Collins, which includes lemon juice, cranberry juice, club soda, and some simple syrup (recipe courtesy Jeremy Lake).

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASCENDANT SPIRITS

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hile many are content to sip on suds or swirl wine in a glass, some drinkers go for the hard stuff. Whether enjoying elaborate mixed drinks or keeping it simple, a smoky whiskey or a clear gin makes these imbibers happy.

The Buellton-based distillery Ascendant Spirits specializes in those two liquors, explained the company’s vice president of sales and marketing Kyle S. Herman.

Though the distillery formed just a few years ago in 2011, Ascendant Spirits has already made quite a name for itself with its specialty liquors, making Ascendant an extra special gift for anyone who loves drinking spirits.

The distillery is proud of its Calyx Gin, which won Best in Show at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Herman explained.

Ascendant Spirits is also known for its whiskey, especially the Breaker Bourbon Whiskey. There is actually a local wine connection to the Breaker Bourbon, which also gold medaled at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition as well as received the World Whiskies Awards.

“A neighbor of ours in Buellton has been making a Madiera wine, which is like a Port-style wine from an island off the coast of Portugal,” Herman said. “They’re 15-year-old barrels, so the wine has been in the barrels for 15 years, and we purchase those barrels and put our bourbon in there, and that makes for an outstanding portfinished bourbon.”

Herman said that the Breaker Bourbon makes an insane Manhattan, but its smokiness makes the liquor an attraction unto itself. It can also be used in a more holiday-themed drink.

Ascendant Spirits’ global brand ambassador and skilled mixologist Jeremy

Lake shared a few recipes with the Sun, including the Holiday Gold Rush, which includes the Breaker Bourbon along with lemon juice and honey, shaken and poured over ice, and finished with a garnish of grated cinnamon and some clove.

For the Calyx Gin, Lake recommended two recipes. The Christmas Collins, which includes Calyx, lemon juice, cranberry juice, simple syrup, club soda, and a garnish of lemon and cranberry. The Winter Daisy includes Calyx, lemon juice, orange curacao, grenadine, and mint leaves. Of course, those ingredients would go well with a gift from Ascendant Spirits, perhaps along with a martini shaker.

For Herman, the spirits are a great gift for giving and receiving, especially when the quality is high, he said. Whether the Ascendant bottle is opened on Christmas stocking stuffers You can order Ascendant Spirit’s Eve, New Year’s, Breaker Bourbon or Calyx Gin or kept on the through ascendantspirits.com or at shelf, it’s a gift the distillery at 37 Industrial Way No. that keeps giving.

103, Buellton. More info: 691-1000 or “I love wine, but info@ascendantspirits.com. one of the things that makes me sad is the fact that you open that bottle, you’re going to drink it, and it’s going to be gone probably that night,” Herman said. “The spirits, it’s one of those things where you can open it and not have that concern.

“But, I think there’s something about booze where you can’t go wrong,” he added, “and if you bring someone a good bottle of booze it means you cared enough to find a bottle that you can pop open and enjoy for many nights, not just one.”

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n a family or group of friends that loves wine, the weekend (or during the week, why not?) is a chance to hit the road and tour the Central Coast’s world famous wineries. From the boutique wineries to the sprawling vineyards, eager sippers have to travel, so someone always ends up driving while the rest are imbibing.

A great way to treat your longtime designated driver this holiday season is with a wine country tour, like those offered by 101 Wine Tours. Owner Laura Jeffrey explained that sometimes friends or family will come together and pitch in for a wine tour to thank the person touring for their family.” that usually does the driving.

“It’s great because there’s usually someone “We’ve had a lot of kids go in together who doesn’t get to enjoy it as much,” for their parents,” she she added, “because it is so important explained. “We had a girl Hit the road that you have someone else driving recently who said, ‘My 101 Wine Tours offers wine, who’s not drinking.” dad’s always the DD and beer, and even olive oil tours Jeffrey takes the wheel and shuttles never just gets to have throughout both Santa Barbara fun.’ So, I think it was for her customers throughout wine and SLO Counties. Gift certificates Father’s Day, her and her country regions in San Luis Obispo and are available at 101winetours.com siblings chipped in and Santa Barbara counties. She does more or 874-2675. purchased a day of wine than provide a shuttle service though.

Anniversary ALE

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURA JEFFREY

WINE COUNTRY ROAD TRIP: 101 Wine Tours takes groups big and small up and down the Central Coast’s wine and beer country for tastings so that everyone can enjoy some drinks without worrying about a designated driver.

Jeffrey is a certified sommelier, so customers ride with someone who’s not just a safe driver, but knowledgeable about wines and what the area has to offer.

Jeffrey sends a wine survey to 101 Wine Tours’ clients in advance of their tour date. She wants to get to know the taste and palates of her clients, she explained, so she knows exactly which wineries they may enjoy visiting and possibly in what order.

“I use the knowledge that I have of, whether

it’s wine, beer, or even sightseeing that we do up the coast, [and] just match people and find out what they’re looking for,” she said. “My goal is for people to have the very best experience, so I suggest sightseeing, restaurants, and have conversations with people about what they want and suggest some extra things.”

101 Wine Tours offers gift certificates, and recipients can simply call and reserve a day for the tour. They can even set the appointment months in advance, maybe around a time when friends or family visit from out of the area, Jeffrey said.

Jeffrey also said that this time of year is a great time to get out on the wine trail. Because the harvest season is winding down, she said that often the hosts at wineries have more time to spend with visitors, and there’s no telling who might stroll by.

“I find that my patrons get a lot of attention from the tasting staff and you’ll find a lot of winemakers out now,” she said. “I had some people out last week and we ran into three winemakers who were able to talk to them, say hi, and one of them even poured for us.

“I do think it’s a good time to come out,” she added. “It’s always beautiful here for different reasons, but right now with the fall, the leaves are changing, so the vineyards are just gorgeous.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN BREWING COMPANY

BARREL-AGED BREW: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company just released its 6th Anniversary Grand Cru Ale, and barrel-aged brew, and sells it by the bottle or in a gift box including a T-shirt.

toasted oak that permeate the ale, she added.

Packing that much flavor into one brew is a long process.

“A barrel-aged beer takes on the nuances of the barrel itself, and in this case, it’s been aged in three different barrels,” she said. “We have our apple-pear brandy barrel, we have our grape brandy barrel, and our whiskey barrel. So there are lots of different flavor profiles that come across at the end in addition to the beer flavor.”

Aged ale like the Grande Cru can also stay on the shelf for quite some time before it’s opened because of its high alcohol content, Fleckenstein said. The Grand Cru is the strongest beer Fig Mountain has produced, she said. At 14 percent alcohol, the anniversary ale is a great beer to share for the holidays, Fleckenstein added.

The Grand Cru anniversary ale is available in a gift box as well, which includes two bottles and an anniversary T-shirt. It’s a gift any beer drinker would love to receive, Fleckenstein said.

“I give it because it’s a great shareable gift, but it’s also perfect for someone that wouldn’t normally spoil themselves with a beer like this,” she said. “It’s totally affordable for the value, but it’s something you wouldn’t just buy any day of the week. It’s definitely meant for special occasions.” ❍ Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.

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igueroa Mountain Brewing Company has gained a loyal following of drinkers since the brewery began in 2010. The brewery and brewmasters celebrate the life of the company every year with the release of an aged anniversary ale.

For the Fig Mountain fan on your holiday gift list, the 6th Anniversary Grand Cru Ale is a

no-brainer, but you might also want to consider it as a stocking stuffer for beer enthusiasts who just love an aged beer. The anniversary ale is anticipated every year for a number of reasons, explained the brewery’s brand director Kady Fleckenstein.

“It’s hard to find barrel-aged beers around, so people who are really into barrel-aged beers

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really jump at the opportunity,” she said. “We also go all out, so we have our gold foil on the label and gold wax. So it’s definitely higher end.”

The anniversary ale is aged in the barrel for a year, so it includes a rich, smoky flavor Fleckenstein said. There are hints of vanilla, marshmallow, almonds, honey, pears, and

Suds and shirts

You can find Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company’s anniversary bottle release, including the gift box with T-shirt, at figmtnbrew.com. You can also visit the taproom in Santa Maria at 560 E. Betteravia, suite B, Santa Maria or Buellton at 45 Industrial Way, Buellton. More info: 694-2252 or figmtnbrew.com.

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Inspired by NATURE

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF GYPSY STUDIOS

WINE AND BRUSHES: What better way to spark that creative flair than with a glass of wine and a vineyard view? Painting in the Vineyard offers the opportunity to do just that—and they have gift certificates!

Give the gift of paint, wine, and nature

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

f you’re looking for more than just an average gift card to give out this Christmas, a gift certificate toward Painting in the Vineyard might be right for you. Gypsy Studios hosts Painting in the Vineyard most weekends at Santa Ynez Valley wineries such as Gainey Winery, Saarloos & Sons, and Brander Vineyard. Gypsy Studios is a mobile full-service art studio that focuses primarily on outdoor landscape painting (plein air painting).

“These events are designed to be an ultimate escape from your everyday routine,” Christi Schaeffer of Gypsy Studios told the Sun. “They delight your senses and draw out your creativity while you enjoy the wine and scenic landscape.”

What makes the gift of Painting in the Vineyard so special, in Schaeffer’s view, isn’t just the experience itself, but the lasting memories it creates.

“Gifting an experience really means gifting memories, those are the things that last,” Schaeffer said in an email to the Sun. “And this experience even provides a tangible memento—a painting that captures the scenery and the setting that particular day offered up.”

But Schaeffer added that those without painting experience should not be discouraged

MAKING MEMORIES: Christi Schaeffer of Gypsy Studios called Painting in Nature the “ultimate escape from your everyday routine.” Participants get to have the experience, and the painting they create becomes a memento of the day.

from signing up for an event. Her philosophy is that life is about unlocking hidden talents you never knew you had.

“Living a full life means waking those senses that often lie dormant while we work, pay bills, get the kids to their activities, and a plethora of other ‘life’ tasks,” Schaeffer stated in her email.

“Painting in the Vineyard is about leaving with a newfound appreciation for the world

we live in, and our own unique, creative contribution,” Schaeffer added. “It’s an exercise in remembering that we are special, important, and unique, that we take up an important space on this earth and that we have been designed to be in connection with that space.”

Beginners without experience who join Painting in the Vineyard also have the benefit of a trained artist on site—available to walk through the entire painting process step by step.

“Even if you’re a beginner, you’ll be amazed at what you can create,” Schaeffer said.

For details on upcoming Painting in the Vineyard events and more info on Gypsy Studios, visit gypsysstudiosart.com. Gift certificates for Painting in the Vineyard are $65.

Gypsy Studios also offers a gift certificate to their six-week painting course for $240. ❍ Contact Caleb Wiseblood through the editor at scone@ santamariasun.com.

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Beer CLUBS-R-US

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Spread some cheer by giving someone a beer

here are beer clubs and then there are beer clubs at Santa Maria Brewing Company. Started by Dan Hilker, the brewery is now owned by Byron Moles. Hilker stayed on as the brewmaster and the creative

PHOTOS BY DAVID MINSKY

BY DAVID MINSKY

force behind the beers.

With a new taproom and restaurant being built in Santa Maria and in Atascadero, the company is undergoing a massive expansion and recently rebranded itself in an effort to

THE BEER MAN: Dan Hilker, who was the former owner of Santa Maria Brewing Company, is now its brewmaster.

attract more craft beer enthusiasts. One of the ways the general public can get in on the action is through beer clubs—why not make it a gift for the craft beer head you know?

Santa Maria Brewing has two beer clubs. The first membership costs $200 and offers discounts on future pint, growler, and keg purchases.

Pints, which normally cost $5.50 each, cost members $3.75, and growler fills are $5.25—a steep discount from the $14 price tag for nonmembers. Five-gallon pony kegs cost members $70 instead of $90 and 15-gallon kegs go for $170 instead of $190.

If you’ve got a little more cash to burn you can opt for the second membership level. It costs $2,500 and you get all of the above deals and then some. This deal also includes one free 5.5-gallon keg per month, plus two free growler fills per day. Plus, you and your spouse get free pints. Also, if you bring guests, they only pay

The mile-high (WINE) CLUB

BEER FOR LIFE: Santa Maria Brewing Company has two beer clubs: one for $200 and one for $2,500, depending on how much beer you want to give.

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$3.75 for their pints as long as you’re paying for it. It’s not quite a freebeer-for-life club, but it’s pretty close.

There’s a tasting room and brewhouse located on Skyway Drive in Santa Maria and a taproom in Nipomo.

With two new locations on their way, beer club members will have more options to use their membership.

Both the new Atascadero and Santa Maria locations will also include full-service bars as well as distilleries, and even a canning line, Hilker said.

Hilker said he’s in the process of getting the required separate alcoholic beverage licenses, and he’ll also build a partition to surround the brewing equipment to meet regulations.

Regarding the Atascadero location, Hilker said he’s planning for an official opening in three to four months. Currently, Hilker is waiting on architects, engineers, and permits.

For more information on joining SMBC’s beer clubs, contact the brewery at 925-1555 or email Hilker at dan@smbrew.com. ❍ Contact Staff Writer David Minsky at dminsky@santamariasun.com.

FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF RENEE LAWSON

BY BRENNA SWANSTON

e know the drill. You can’t think of what to give that one person this holiday season, and your go-to lastditch idea keeps popping to mind: wine tour. But you gave them a wine tour last year, too, remember? You want to do something different this time around.

Well, we’ve got just the recommendation to get you out of that gifter’s block rut: a wine tour—2,000 feet in the air.

You read that right. Sky’s the Limit Ballooning Adventures offers wine tasting tours in the company’s hot air balloons, which you can pretty much bet that hard-to-gift person in your life hasn’t done (at least, not recently).

The company offers two different hot air balloon tours in Santa Barbara County: the Solvang to Santa Barbara wine country flight, and the Solvang to Santa Barbara wine country flight and wine tasting tour. After all, you’ve got more than 100 wineries to choose from in the Santa Ynez Valley, so you might as well snag a bird’s-eye view of all of them.

This tour runs between about four hours long, with the actual flight time spanning 45 minutes to an hour. It takes off at 6:15 a.m., so make sure that person on your gift list doesn’t mind the early bird life.

The usual price for the wine country flight is $240 per person, with an online special going for $220. But for a limited time, locals can enjoy a discounted price of $200—though you have to call the company and specify that you are in fact a local to reap that benefit.

The wine country flight takes off each morning from Solvang and includes a continental-style champagne breakfast after the hot air balloon flight. The wine tasting tour makes stops at two tasting rooms, and the bundle includes tasting fees and transportation.

The tasting tour goes for $315 per person and runs a total of six hours. The meeting time for this experience is also 6:15 a.m.—but it’s never too early for wine tasting, as far as we’re concerned.

Sky’s the Limit employs four hot air balloon pilots, including company owner James Lawson. Each has logged thousands of

hours of flight time, so you’ll be safe and sound—still, since hot air balloon tours involve standing in a basket thousands of feet above the ground, there are rules.

Children must be older than 5 years of age. Pregnant women need a doctor’s note to fly. The individual weight limit per person is 240 pounds. There’s a bench seat available for special needs, but it runs an extra $50. And you have to book it at least 48 hours in advance.

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UP, UP, UP: It’s apparently not as scary as it looks. The balloon’s basket sides stand 52 inches tall, and it’s got a sturdy floor to fend off height fears and motion sickness.

So, think of that person you’ve been trying and failing to check off your gift list. Do they like wine? Do they like giant, colorful balloons? You can probably bet on a “yes” to both those questions. So do yourself a favor: Make the booking, and check that person off your list. ❍