Day 23: Humble Forager

Day 23: Humble Forager Elevated Perspective V3 – DDH Imperial Oat IPA 8% A

I am extremely excited about the brewery we chose to take us into the holiday, Humble Forager. The brewery operates on its four pillars; Think Globally, Forage Locally, Live Humbly, Drink Adventurously. Following these ideals leads them to source most of their ingredients from local farmers while looking for unique ingredients from around the world to incorporate into their beers. Take a second to look at their beer list on their website and you will see they do not lack creativity. They do not give a specific location for their brewery, but after a little sleuthing, I’m pretty sure they brew out of Octopi Brewing in Waunakee, WI. 

Our first beer from Humble Forager is Elevated Perspective V3. We are treated with the third version of this beer, while the fourth is what they currently have available. Each version is brewed with the same base recipe, while the hop selections vary as the brewer experiments and tinkers. The pour is a hazy golden color with a thick white head. The smell is citrusy with notes of white wine grapes and melon. The taste follows the nose with citrus, grapes, and melon being the dominant flavors. The mouthfeel is soft, almost like a milkshake IPA due to the large amount of oats. Enjoy this adventurous beer tonight and reflect on any newfound, ‘Elevated Perspectives’ you have come to during this advent season.

Cheers,

Chase

Advent Reflection

Scripture: Luke 2:8-12

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Tonight’s reflection comes from: The Advent Project. (As you read, put yourself in the shoes of the shepherds who received the glorious message in our Scripture reading tonight!)

“What is this cosmic invasion that angels must announce it? Angels themselves are an invasion enough for this poor shepherd. Never have I seen even the flutter of angelic light in the distance. Never have I heard even the faint echo of an angel song. Yes, a single angel would be an invasion enough. But an army….This night, an army of angels! And that song. Such singing was both a terror and a joy to us on the ground. But all this was not the real invasion. All of this was just a message. This army of angels with their song that pierced our souls were merely the messengers of the Real Invasion. What a glorious entrance into our world of sheep and grass and of family and business and politics as usual. What is this cosmic invasion?

“Fear not,” so they said. Yet we were thrown onto the ground, overpowered by the light and the song. How could we not fear? We are mere human beings. Flesh was not made to bear this weight of glory! We shake in terror at the messenger. We are mere human beings.

“Good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people” News – Good News for all the people! This news shall be to all the people. All people in all times shall hear these good tidings of great joy. What cosmic invasion is this that touches all the people – in all places and all times? When Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, Babylon did not see; Rome slept. Such a mighty work of the Lord – as mighty as it was – was not to all the people. How majestic must the real invasion be!

“In the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Could it be? A Savior for all the people? Even the unclean shepherd? Even the Gentile far from the promises of God? If it were only so! This would be tidings of great joy. The Savior is the one promised of old. So, this is the divine invasion. God’s promises come to us, here and now. Now all will be different. This is God’s mighty invasion.

“And this shall be the sign unto you” A baby? This cosmic invasion that rescues all the people is found in a baby? This cannot be. Such an invasion that is announced by a mighty army of angels must be even greater. It has to be larger, stronger, more terrible. We need God himself with his mighty sword. If we are to be saved it must be by the force of God overthrowing the enemy of enemies. Rome will not be torn down by a baby in swaddling clothes.

This we have to see for ourselves!  

We saw the child, as the angels told.

Indeed, the promise of God. Returning to our fields in the quiet of night, my brother began to hum a song yet to be written, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.”

Grace and Peace,

robert