Good news for cocktail fans who crave holiday kitsch! Miracle, the over-the-top Christmas pop-up at Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma, is back with new beverages, glitz and glam for the whole fam.
Also coming (back) to town is Sippin’ Santa, the Tiki-inspired cocktail pop-up at the Flamingo Resort’s Lazeaway Club in Santa Rosa.
Celebrating a decade this year, Miracle was founded in 2014 by New York bar owner Greg Boehm who spontaneously launched a cocktail pop-up while his future bar was undergoing construction during the holidays.
The following year, he launched Sippin’ Santa, Miracle’s tropical little sister (think: Santa on a surfboard). Both an immediate success, the two cocktail pop-ups now partner with over 250 bars and restaurants around the globe to bring cheeky holiday cheer to the masses.
While Boehm and his company Cocktail Kingdom Hospitality Group provide the holiday-themed cocktail recipes and general guidelines, each participating location is responsible for the decorations and setup.
Miracle
At Brewsters Beer Garden, owner Mike Goebel and his eight-person team spend about three weeks transforming the restaurant into a glittering city of garlands, baubles, twinkly lights and trimmings.
This year, a 16-foot Christmas tree, life-size gingerbread house, photo booth and gift shop selling cocktails to-go and limited-edition merchandise will all add to the cheer.
“I love watching people’s faces light up when they see all the lights and decorations,” said Goebel. “They’re so happy to be here. That’s what makes the effort worth it and pushes us to do more every year.”
A father of three, Goebel wants people to know Miracle at Brewsters is a family affair. Young visitors are encouraged to fill out a Letter to Santa with their wish list, name and address. Goebel said every child who submits a letter will receive a mailed response from “Santa Claus” himself.
If kids would rather speak to Santa directly, he’ll be on-site from 6 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, beginning Dec. 3.
“Being family friendly is what this community is all about,” said Goebel. “Parents want and need places they can go to have fun with their children, and we want to accommodate that. Also, I want to make sure my own kids don’t hate coming in to see dad at work!”
On the cocktail menu, guests can expect to see a host of new drinks. They include the brandy and Port-driven Crooked Antler, the Stocking Stuffer (bourbon, sherry, cinnamon syrup, chocolate bitters) and the Santa Slide (whiskey liqueur, cream sherry, crème de cacao, orange curaçao, mole bitters).
Returning favorites include the Christmapolitan, Snowball Old Fashioned and Rudolph’s Replacement. Numerous nonalcoholic beverages will be on offer, too.
All the specialty cocktails are served in Miracle’s signature glassware, which is available for purchase at Brewsters in Santa’s Workshop. Mugs shaped like Santa’s pants, a festive rum barrel and Tyrannosaurus Rex in a Santa hat are among those offered.
“This will be our biggest and brightest Christmas yet,” said Goebel. “The energy in this place will be rocking!”
Sippin’ Santa
At the Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa, the entire property has been transformed into a tropical wonderland, complete with retro Tiki Christmas decorations, twinkly lights, garlands and a rattan sleigh.
Managing partner Benson Wang said it took the team about three weeks to create the tropical transformation, including the Lazeaway Club’s Sippin’ Santa takeover.
“Everyone brought creativity and energy to transform the space, which feels like stepping into a holiday escape,” he said. “We try to take it up a notch each and every year.”
Now in its third year at the Lazeaway Club, Sippin’ Santa is featuring numerous new cocktails this year. They include the Choquito (rum, coconut, crème de cacao, mole bitters), the Sugar Plum Mai Tai (rum, lime, orgeat, cinnamon syrup, plum), a Snowball’s Chance in Hilo (rum, lime, pineapple, orange, cinnamon syrup, bitters) and Tom and Sherry (sherry, cream, coconut milk, almond liqueur, saffron bitters).
Returning favorites include Holiday on Ice (cold brew, condensed milk, ancho chili liqueur, cinnamon syrup), the Jingle Bird and more.
A special Sippin’ Santa food menu will also be on offer, with appetizers like Oh Christmas Tree (crispy chicken, pine-infused sea salt, green garlic ranch), Christmas Ham (char siu pork belly, grilled pineapple, maraschino cherry), Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian bread stuffing croquettes, pecan mezcal cranberry sauce, sage) and more.
“Sippin’ Santa aligns with our vision to create spaces where people can unwind and reconnect during a time of year when it’s needed most,” said Wang. “We participate every year because it’s a unique way to bring the community together.”
You can reach Staff Writer Sarah Doyle at 707-521-5478 or sarah.doyle@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Sarah on Instagram at @whiskymuse.