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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.12

                             PETE'S BREWING COMPANY
                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the 1995 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan") shall have the same defined meanings in this Option Agreement.

I. NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT
        JEFFREY A. ATKINS

        You have been granted an option to purchase Common Stock of the
Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option
Agreement, as follows:

        Grant Number                        149

        Date of Grant                       December 13, 1996

        Vesting Commencement Date           December 13, 1996

        Exercise Price per Share            $6.50

        Total Number of Shares Granted      61,000

        Total Exercise Price                $396,500

        Type of Option:                      X    Incentive Stock Option
                                            ---
                                                  Nonstatutory Stock Option
                                            ---
        Term/Expiration Date:               December 13, 2006

        Vesting Schedule:

        This Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with
the following schedule:
        25% of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest twelve months after
the Vesting Commencement Date, and 1/48th of the Shares subject to the Option
shall vest each month thereafter.

        Dissolution, Merger, or Assets Sale

        Notwithstanding the foregoing Vesting Schedule, in the event of a
Change of Control of the Company, the Optionee shall have the right to exercise
this Option as to all of the Shares, including Shares as to which it would not
otherwise be exercisable. "Change of Control" shall mean the occurrence of any
of the following events:
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                (i)  Any "person" or "group" (as such term is used in Section
13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) is or
becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more
of the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding voting
securities; or

                (ii)  A change in the composition of the Board of the Company
occurring within a two-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority
of the directors are Incumbent Directors.  "Incumbent Directors" shall mean
directors who either (A) are directors of the Company as of the date hereof, or
(B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of the Company with
the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the
time of such election or nomination (but shall not include an individual whose
election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy
contest relating to the election of directors to the Company); or

                (iii)  The shareholders of the Company approve a merger or
consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or
consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power
represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the shareholders
of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an
agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets (other than to a subsidiary or subsidiaries).

        Termination Period:

        This Option may be exercised for three (3) months after termination of
the Optionee's employment or consulting relationship with the Company.  Upon
the death or disability of the Optionee, this Option may be exercised for such
longer period as provided in the Plan.  In the event of the Optionee's change in
status from Employee to Consultant or Consultant to Employee, this Option
Agreement shall remain in effect.  In no event shall this Option be exercised
later than the Term/Expiration Date as provided above.

II.  AGREEMENT

1.      Grant of Option.  The Plan Administrator of the Company hereby grants
to the Optionee named in the Notice of Grant attached as Part I of this
Agreement (the "Optionee") an option (the "Option") to purchase the number of
Shares, as set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per share
set forth in the Notice of Grant (the "Exercise Price"), subject to the terms
and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.  Subject
to Section 14(c) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and
conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement,
the terms and conditions of the



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Plan shall prevail.

        If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option
("ISO"), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under
Section 422 of the Code.  However, if this Option is intended to be an
Incentive Stock Option, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code
Section 422(d) it shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option ("NSO").

2.      Exercise of Option.

        (a)     Right to Exercise.  This Option is exercisable during its term
in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and the
applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.  In the event of
Optionee's death, Disability or other termination of Optionee's employment or
consulting relationship, the exercisability of the Option is governed by the
applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.

        (b)     Method of Exercise.  This Option is exercisable by delivery of
an exercise notice, in the form attached as Exhibit A (the "Exercise Notice"),
which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in
respect of which the Option is being exercised (the "Exercised Shares"), and
such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.  The Exercise Notice shall be signed
by the Optionee and shall be delivered in person or by U.S. mail to the Stock
Plan Administrator.  The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the
aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares.  This Option shall be
deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed
Exercise Notice accompanied by such aggregate Exercise Price.

        No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option
unless such issuance and exercise complies with all relevant provisions of law
and the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation service upon which the
Shares are then listed.  Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the
Exercised Shares shall be considered transferred to the Optionee on the date the
Option is exercised with respect to such Exercised Shares.

3.      Method of Payment.  Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by
any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:

        (a)     check; or

        (b)     delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with
such other documentation as the Administrator and the broker, if applicable,
shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and delivery to the Company
of the sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price; or

        (c)     surrender of other Shares which (i) in the case of Shares
acquired upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more
than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value
on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised
Shares.



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4.      Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any
manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may
be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms of
the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors,
administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

5.      Term of Option. This Option may be exercised only with the term set out
in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance
with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.

6.      Tax Consequences. Some of the federal and California tax consequences
relating to this Option, as of the date of this Option, are set forth below.
THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE
SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE OPTIONEE SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING
THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

        (a)     Exercising the Option.

                (i)     Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Optionee may incur
regular federal income tax and California income tax liability upon exercise of
a NSO. The Optionee will be treated as having received compensation income
(taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair
Market Value of the Exercised Shares on the date of exercise over their
aggregate Exercise Price. If the Optionee is an Employee or a former Employee,
the Company will be required to withhold from his or her compensation or collect
from Optionee and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash
equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise, and
may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such
withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.

                (ii)    Incentive Stock Option. If this Option qualifies as an
ISO, the Optionee will have no regular federal income tax or California income
tax liability upon its exercise, although the excess, if any, of the Fair Market
Value of the Exercised Shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate
Exercise Price will be treated as an adjustment to alternative minimum taxable
income for federal tax purposes and may subject the Optionee to alternative
minimum tax in the year of exercise. In the event that the Optionee undergoes a
change of status from Employee to Consultant, any Incentive Stock Option of the
Optionee that remains unexercised shall cease to qualify as an Incentive Stock
Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option on
the ninety-first (91st) day following such change of status.

        (b)     Disposition of Shares.

                (i)     NSO. If the Optionee holds NSO Shares for at least one
year, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as
long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes.


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                (ii)    ISO. If the Optionee holds ISO Shares for at least one
year after exercise and two years after the grant date, any gain realized on
disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal
income tax purposes. If the Optionee disposes of ISO Shares within one year
after exercise or two years after the grant date, any gain realized on such
disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income
rates) to the extent of the excess, if any, of the lesser of (A) the difference
between the Fair Market Value of the Shares acquired on the date of exercise and
the aggregate Exercise Price, or (B) the difference between the sale price of
such Shares and the aggregate Exercise Price.

        (c)     Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the
Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to
an ISO on or before the later of (i) two years after the grant date, or (ii) one
year after the exercise date, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company
in writing of such disposition. The Optionee agrees that he or she may be
subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income
recognized from such early disposition of ISO Shares by payment in cash or out
of the current earnings paid to the Optionee.

7.      Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by
reference. The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their
entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the
Optionee's interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and
Optionee. This agreement is governed by California law except for that body of
law pertaining to conflict of laws.


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By your signature and the signature of the Company's representative below, you
and the By Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the
terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.  Optionee has
reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirety, has had an
opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option
Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and Option Agreement.
Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions
or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan
and Option Agreement.  Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any
change in the residence address indicated below.

OPTIONEE:                                   PETE'S BREWING COMPANY


By:                                         By:
   ------------------------------              ---------------------------
   Jeffrey A. Atkins                           Kevin O'Rourke
                                               Director

Title:
      ---------------------------


---------------------------------
Residence Address

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CONSENT OF SPOUSE

        The undersigned spouse of Optionee has read and hereby approves the
terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.  In consideration
of the Company's granting his or her spouse the right to purchase Shares as set
forth in the Plan and this Option Agreement, the undersigned hereby agrees to
be irrevocably bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option
Agreement and further agrees that any community property interest shall be
similarly bound.  The undersigned hereby appoints the undersigned's spouse as
attorney-in-fact for the undersigned with respect to any amendment or exercise
of rights under the Plan or this Option Agreement.




---------------------------------
Spouse of Optionee




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                                   EXHIBIT A
                             PETE'S BREWING COMPANY
                                EXERCISE NOTICE

Pete's Brewing Company
514 High Street
Palo Alto, CA  94301
Attention:  Secretary

        1.      Exercise of Option.  Effective as of today___________, 199__,
the undersigned ("Purchaser") hereby elects to purchase ______________ shares
(the "Shares") of the Common Stock of Pete's Brewing Company (the "Company")
under and pursuant to the 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") and the Stock
Option Agreement dated December 13, 1996 (the "Option Agreement").  The purchase
price for the Shares shall be $6.50, as required by the Option Agreement.

        2.      Delivery of Payment.  Purchaser herewith delivers to the
Company the full purchase price for the Shares.

        3.      Representations of Purchaser.  Purchaser acknowledges that
Purchaser has received, read and understood the Plan and the Option Agreement
and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.

        4.      Rights as Shareholder.  Until the issuance (as evidenced by the
appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer
agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right
to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist
with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.
A share certificate for the number of Shares so acquired shall be issued to the
Optionee as soon as practicable after exercise of the Option.  No adjustment
will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to
the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 12 of
the Plan.

        5.      Tax Consultation.  Purchaser understands that Purchaser may
suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Purchaser's purchase or
disposition of the Shares.  Purchaser represents that Purchaser has consulted
with any tax consultants Purchaser deems advisable in connection with the
purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Purchaser is not relying on the
Company for any tax advice.

        6.      Entire Agreement: Governing Law.  The Plan and Option Agreement
are incorporated herein by reference.  This Agreement, the Plan and the Option
Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings
and agreements of the Company and Purchaser with respect to the subject matter
hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Purchaser's interest except by
means of a writing signed by the Company and Purchaser.
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This agreement is governed by California law except for that body of law
pertaining to conflict of laws.


Submitted by:                           Accepted by:

PUCHASER:                               PETE'S BREWING COMPANY

                                        By:
------------------------------------       ----------------------------------
Signature                                  Jeffrey A. Atkins
                                           Chief Financial Officer

------------------------------------
Print Name


Address:                                Address:

------------------------------------    514 High Street
------------------------------------    Palo Alto, CA  94301