Cross Creek Courier Another Seabreeze Publication
VOL. 39 NO. 12
www.seabreezecommunications.com
DECEMBER 2023
Ale Tales And Lager Lore By Diane Bothfeld Happy holidays to you and all the people you care about. There are several holidays in December to celebrate and many brewers prepare holiday beers for the season. Many holiday beers are brewed with spices and are high in alcohol. Up north, these would be beers to curl up with near a fire and sip on a cold winter’s night. It is warmer in Florida, but you can still curl up and savor these beers with family and friends. European brewers have frequently made holiday beers and here are two possible options. A Belgian beer – Delirium Christmas, is a Belgian dark strong ale and is amber to brown in color. This is a strong beer with over 10 percent alcohol with flavors of caramel, chocolate, dark fruits (like raisins and
prunes), spices – clove, cinnamon and allspice, and bubbly effervescence! Belgian brewers use specific ale yeasts that provide some very interesting fruity and spicy flavors. This beer is a treat, might be a bit hard to find but I have seen this brand at Total Wine before! A British ale to consider is Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome. This is a strong English ale that has caramel flavors as well as some toffee and nutty notes. This beer comes in at 6 percent alcohol and has a slightly bitter, dry aftertaste. No real spices here and that may appeal to a broader group, but this is a well-balanced ale to be shared. On to some local examples of holiday beers. Fort Myers Brewing makes Keg Nog, which is a stout brewed with cinnamon and nutmeg and comes in at 10 percent alcohol.
This beer plays tribute to holiday egg nog but as a dark rich beer! Certainly, a beer to curl up with and savor with friends and family. Another example from a Florida brewery is Funky Buddha Last Snow. This is a porter with flavors of chocolate, coconut, and coffee which is rich and creamy. This beer is a bit lower in alcohol at 6.4 percent and is black in color. With fewer spices this may hit the spot for those not interested in holiday spices in a beer and supporting a local brewer. Holiday times are important opportunities to be with friends and families but as always drink responsibly and if you overindulge, please seek alternative transportation and/ or have a designated driver. Happy holidays to you all!
Cross Creek Travelers Miami, Fort Lauderdale And Key West – Jan. 23 To 25, 2024 Three Days/Two Nights – $460 Per Person, Double Occupancy This trip will have a deluxe motor coach transportation equipped with video and Wi-Fi and will include three meals: two breakfasts and one dinner. We’ll enjoy a sightseeing cruise down the “Venice of America,” Fort Lauderdale, and enjoy the exciting island city of Key West. In Miami, we’ll see the famous South Beach and Lincoln Road restaurants and quaint shops. A stop at Little Havana will round out this fun two-day tour. We sold out last year so don’t miss this one. Charleston, S.C. – March 11 To 16 Six Days/Five Nights – $875 Per Person, Double Occupancy Your journey to charming Charleston where you’ll explore the historic Charleston city market with eclectic shops you won’t find elsewhere. Our guided tour will include a scenic harbor cruise taking in the beauty of the Charleston Harbor learning the rich history of the “Holy City.” You will tour the impressive Middleton Place experiencing the garden, animal stables, the chapel, rice mill and so much more. We’ll visit the Charleston Tea Garden and tour a historic Charleston home. A highlight of your tour includes a trolley tour of the garden. Of course, we will have a guided tour of this beautiful city of Charleston. Washington, D.C. (Our Nation’s Capital) – March 20 To 28 Nine Days/Eight Nights – $1,330 Per Person, Double Occupancy This price includes 14 meals: Eight breakfasts and
six dinners with our deluxe motor coach transportation for your comfort. We will have two guided tours of Washington, D.C., including the World War II Memorial, Capitol Hill, Embassy Row, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Smithsonian, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and much more. Not to be missed is our evening guided memorial and monuments tour. Admission to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Garden. Tram ride through Arlington National Cemetery. This historic trip will be one not to miss. Biltmore Estate And The Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, N.C. – Oct. 20 To 25 Six Days/Five Nights – $915 Per Person, Double Occupancy This price includes eight meals: Five breakfasts and three dinners. Fall’s dazzling splendor at the Biltmore Estate in its autumn beauty, harvest season in the vineyards and gardens, brimming with colorful mums are but a few reasons to visit Biltmore in the fall. Biltmore village connects the estate’s present and past, providing a relaxing place for dining, shopping, and historical exhibits. This is a must-see destination in America. Our trip has a guided tour of downtown Asheville featuring Art Deco architecture complementing the Miami Art Deco. This time of the year is perfect for a drive on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s most visited National Park. We’ll visit the famous Folk Art Center which is sure to be a delight.
Cross Creek Book Club The Cross Creek Book Club meets the second Friday of the month at 2 p.m. in the garden room at the clubhouse, November through April. There are Zoom meetings in May, September, and October. A link for the Zoom meeting will be sent prior to the meeting. Please join us for our book discussions, even if you haven’t read the book. Following is the schedule for December through April 2024.
Dec. 8 The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Anne Lyons 2024 Jan. 12 Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Feb. 9 West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge March 8 Horse by Geraldine Brooks April 12 The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave For more information, please contact Pam Conti, (607) 759-1996, pconti123@gmail.com. If you need the Zoom link, please contact Pam Conti.
For more information on these tours visit www.grouptrips. com/crosscreek. A $75 deposit is required to secure your seat. Checks only are to be made out to Diamond Tours and sent to Kathy Bonick, 8380 Arborfield Court, Fort Myers, FL 33912. Calls can be made to (309) 265-7241 for further information.
Big 10 Golf Challenge Mark your calendars for March 2, 2024. This fun annual golf outing will be a four-person scramble with a shotgun starting at 10 a.m. A luncheon and prizes will follow. It is a sold-out event each year so watch for signup sheets in the clubhouse mid-January. The Buckeye Club welcomes all universities and colleges to “The Challenge!” For questions or more information please call Tom or Patti Barbuto, (248) 425-1267.
Pickleball Schedule 2023/24 For All Levels – Clubhouse Courts Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday 9 to 11 a.m.