Fill My Cup: Anchor of Hope

Fill My Cup is a weekly Bible and Beer review where I share notes from a Scripture passage and a critical review of a featured beer. May this series spark discourse, reflection, and promote new learning about craft beer and the Bible. I invite you to engage with me--share your thoughts, comments, and your musings!

Good News

"Hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary." Hebrews 6:19

Faith is confidence in what we hope for and an assurance of what we do not see. Hope is the strong an trustworthy anchor of our faith--hope grounds us in Christ. Hope allows us to see past current circumstances because of our belief in Christ and trust in what is yet to come. If you're like me, maybe hope is the very thing that got you through this past election cycle.

While half of the country seems to be living in fear of what is yet to come, Christ-followers have an assurance that God is in control and can, therefore, hope for great things on the horizon despite (or in spite) of whatever the circumstances may be.

Hope transcends fear, worry, doubt. Regardless of whatever you're going through, remember the promise found in Hebrews 6:19-- Hope leads us through the curtain into God's inner Sanctuary. 

Craft Brews

Our Special Ale 2016, Anchor Brewing Co. 6.5% ABV

Our Special Ale is Anchor Brewing's annual seasonal release. Each year, the recipe changes ever so slightly to bring a nuanced flavor to close out the calendar year. This 2016 batch is Anchor's 42nd release of what has now become a seasonal tradition. Just as the recipe changes every year, so does the hand-drawn Christmas tree seen on label in the picture above.

While the craft beer "movement" in America is still fairly young, This California-based brewery brings decades of tradition to the shelves with this holiday release.

"[S]old only from early November to mid-January, the ale's recipe is different every year--as is the tree on the label--but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life." Anchorbrewing.com

Our Special Ale pours a picturesque dark brown, almost black, color with a light head that laces the glass beautifully. The beer gives off a semi-sweet aroma of molasses, caramel, and hints of pine and roasted malt. Spices and sweet molasses lead the initial charge of flavor, followed by caramel, dark fruits, burnt sugar and an earthy hop finish. As the beer warms, the holiday spices and wood notes become more dominate on the palate; the initial sweetness takes a backseat.

The 2016 release of Our Special Ale is one of the better recipes they've released in recent years. Layers of flavor and complex characteristics make this a fun beer to sip and enjoy.

Karbach's Yule Shoot Your Eye Out (2012)

Brewery: Karbach Brewing Co.
Location: Houston, TX
Style: Spiced/Seasonal Ale
ABV: 8%

Yule Shoot Your Eye Out is big beer that shows the brewery's humorous side. It's name is inspired by a Christmas classic and, like the film, it's sure to become a seasonal tradition for many.

Karbach is a brewery that was still in its infancy when I moved out of Houston in 2011. Even at that time, I remember being impressed with their first couple of releases, specifically Sympathy for the Lager and Rodeo Clown Double IPA.

Now that I live in Florida, I no longer have the privilege of tasting their beers on a regular basis, and I was about the opportunity to get my hands on Yule Shoot Your Eye Out (special thanks to @discipleofhops for sending a bottle last year) via a trade.

Appearance: Very dark brown. I thought it was black at first, but realized it's actually a clear dark brown once I held it to the light. There's a nice thick head that forms and remains.

Aroma: Oh, this is a real treat! Lots of fall and winter spices like caramel, chocolate, nutmeg, ginger, and anise. The anise is particularly pleasing to the nose!

Taste:  The flavors are incredibly profound and complex! The dark chocolate, toffee, and molasses stand out on the palate and create a pleasant sweetness with a bitter finish. The holiday spices are prominent but not overpowering. This is one of the few seasonally spiced beers that I could drink year-round. The ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg pair very well with the bitter-sweet flavors of this stout-like ale. And to round everything out, the piny hops make an appearance on the finish and linger nicely on the aftertaste.

Overall: Delicious, complex, big-bodied, bold-flavored, seasonal ale. There's not much I don't like about this beer. Now, this particular bottle has been in my cellar for a year, so I don't know if the beer is this balanced and complex fresh. But judging by how this one performed, I definitely recommend cellaring a bottle or two if you can.

This was a wonderful way to end my Christmas celebrations.

Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year!