1 Exhibit 4.9 NOTE AGREEMENT Beverage Works, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company") and Frederick Friedman ("Purchaser") (collectively the "Parties"), agree ("Agreement") as follows: SECTION 1. DESCRIPTION OF NOTE AND COMMITMENT. Section 1.1. Description of Note. The Company will authorize the issue and sale of a $500,000 aggregate principal amount 18% promissory note (the "Note") to be dated the date of issue, to bear interest from such date at the rate of 18% per annum, simple interest, payable on the fifteenth day of each month (commencing May 15, 1996) and at maturity until paid to mature on the earlier of (i) closing of a public offering by the Company with aggregate gross proceeds of no less than $6,000,000 (the "IPO"), the occurrence of which there is no guarantee, or (ii) December 31, 1996, whichever shall occur earlier ("Maturity Date"), and to be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. Section 1.2. Warrants. (a) The Company shall issue to Purchaser Thirty-Five Thousand (35,000) Warrants to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock, no par value ("Common Stock"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase from the Company, for a three (3) year period commencing on the date of issuance of the Warrants, one fully-paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock at an exercise price (the "Exercise Price") of $4.75. If the IPO has not closed by the Maturity Date, the Purchaser shall receive an additional Thirty-Five Thousand (35,000) Warrants on the same terms and conditions. (b) These Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of these Warrants will be registered in the Company's IPO. (c) Purchaser as holder of a Warrant Certificate shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company, nor shall anything contained herein be construed to confer upon Purchaser any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company. The number of Warrants issued shall be adjusted pro rata in the event of a Common Stock dividend, Common Stock split, or Common Stock reverse split by the Company prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration. Section 1.3. Security Interest. The Note shall be secured by all equipment, inventory and accounts receivable of the Company. In addition, the proceeds from the sale of the Note shall be deposited into an escrow account held at PaineWebber, or such other comparable institution ("Escrow Account"). The Company may immediately withdraw up to $250,000 from the Escrow Account. The Company may withdraw the remaining proceeds from the sale of the note only after filing a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the IPO. The Company shall execute and file with the California Secretary of State a Form UCC-1 containing such appropriate information to effectuate this Section 1.3. 2 SECTION 2. PREPAYMENT OF NOTE. Section 2.1. The Company may prepay this Note at any time prior to Maturity without penalty. SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS. Section 3.1. Purchaser represents, and in entering into this Agreement the Company understands, that he is acquiring the Note, Warrants and shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants for the purpose of investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof, and that he has no present intention of selling, negotiating or otherwise disposing of the Note, Warrants and shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. Purchaser further represents that he is an accredited investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D of the Securities Act. Purchaser has had an opportunity to question representatives of the Company and to obtain appropriate information concerning the Company as he has deemed appropriate under the circumstances. SECTION 4. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. Section 4.1. Events of Default. Default shall occur (i) in the payment of interest on the Note when the same shall have become due and such default shall continue for more than five business days; or (ii) in the payment of principal on the Note when the same shall have become due and such default shall continue for more than thirty days ("Event of Default"). SECTION 5. AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS AND CONSENTS. Section 5.1. Consent Required. Any term, covenant, agreement or condition of this Agreement may be amended or compliance therewith may be waived, only upon the Parties' written consent of the Parties. Any such amendment or waiver shall be binding upon each future holder of the Note and upon the Company, whether or not the Note shall have been marked to indicate such amendment or waiver. No such amendment or waiver shall extend to or affect any obligation not expressly amended or waived or impair any right consequent thereon. SECTION 6. MISCELLANEOUS. Section 6.1. Notices. Any notice, payment, demand or communication required or permitted to be given by any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed given if sent by United States Mail, first class, postage prepaid, or by telephone or facsimile, if such telephone conversation or facsimile is followed by a hard copy of the telephone conversation or facsimilied communication sent by United States Mail, first class, postage prepaid, and addressed as follows: Note Agreement 2 of 3 3 The Company: The Purchaser: Mr. Frederik Rodenhuis Frederick Friedman Brewing Company of America 9800 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 720 ___________________ Los Angeles, CA 90045 ___________________ Section 6.2. Binding Effect. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors, transferees, and assigns. Section 6.3. Severability. Every provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable. If any term or provision hereof is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the validity or legality of the remainder of this Agreement. Section 6.4. Further Action. Each Party, upon the request of any other Party, agrees to perform all further acts and execute, acknowledge, and deliver any documents which may be reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement. Section 6.5. Arbitration and Governing Law. All disputes relating to or arising under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be resolved by binding arbitration before the American Arbitration Association at its offices at 140 West 51st Street, New York, New York. California law shall apply in all respects. Section 6.6. Attorneys' Fees. The prevailing party in any arbitration shall be entitled to recover costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees as determined by the arbitrator. Section 6.7. Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all of the Parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have entered into this Agreement by their signatures below: THE COMPANY: BEVERAGE WORKS, INC. Dated:______________ _________________________________ Frederik Rodenhuis, Chief Executive Officer THE PURCHASER: Dated:______________ _________________________________ Frederick Friedman Note Agreement 3 of 3 4 EXHIBIT A $500,000 PROMISSORY NOTE December 31, 1996 1. Beverage Works, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Frederick Friedman: (a) the principal amount of $500,000 on (i) the date of a close of a public offering by the Company with aggregate gross proceeds of at least $6,000,000, or (ii) December 31, 1996, whichever shall occur earlier (the "Maturity Date"); and (b) interest on the principal amount from time to time remaining unpaid hereon at the rate of 18% per annum, simple interest, from the date hereof until the Maturity Date, payable on the fifteenth day of each month (commencing on May 15, 1996). 2. Both the principal hereof and interest hereon are payable in United States currency. If any amount of principal or interest on or in respect of this Note becomes due and payable on any date which is not a Business Day, such amount shall be payable on the immediately preceding Business Day. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks in New York are required by law to close or are customarily closed. 3. The Company may prepay this Note at any time prior to Maturity without penalty. 4. The laws of the State of California shall apply. BEVERAGE WORKS, INC. Dated:___________________ _________________________________ Frederik Rodenhuis, Chief Executive Officer