July Update on 2025 Cycling Goals

I do quite a bit of cycling for a middle-aged couch potato.

With all the BBQ I make and eat, and all the beer I brew and drink, biking a ridiculous amount helps keep me somewhat in shape.

So ... I spend lots of time cycling around the foothills of Denver, which I always track on Strava.

Anyway ... as you may remember from 2025 Cycling Goals, I have 5 cycling goals this year:

#MetricCenturyEveryMonth / #8200MilesIn2025 / #16EverestsIn2025 / Triple Bypass Ride / #GCCUSA

Here is an update for these goals as of the end of July, 2025: 

1. #MetricCenturyEveryMonth
   I did one Metric Century done in July, but it was a big one: 2025 Triple Bypass Ride. This is the 48th straight month that I've been able to finish at least one 100km ride. July of 2021 was the last month I did not finish a metric century.
   
   
2. #8200MilesIn2025
   As of the end of July, I have logged over 4,877 miles in 2025. This is the second month that I am "ahead" on plan for the year. There is no looking back now.
   
   
3. #16EverestsIn2025
   16 x 29,032 = 464,512 feet. At the end of July I have logged over 285,060 feet climbed. This puts me ahead of the goal by over 15,000 feet. 
   
   
4. Triple Bypass Ride
   CHECK ✅
   If you read this blog, you probably know that I did the 2025 Triple Bypass Ride this month. I even did it slightly faster than last year.
   
   
5. #GCCUSA
   I've raised $1,676 of my $2,500 goal. I suppose I'll start to get a little more active begging for money soon.
   If you'd like to help out, you can do it here: https://greatcyclechallenge.com/riders/EricShepard

So, I'm on track for these cycling goals. 

Month		Miles		YTD			Elevation		YTD
January		573		573	-121		33,724		33,724		-1,423
February		595		1,168	-158		36,932		70,656		+263
March		746		1,914	-108		43,340		113,996		-543
April		697		2,610	- 86		42,683		156,679		+3,963
May		713		3,323	-69		42,123		198,803		+6,635
June		768		4,092	+25		40,722		239,528		+9,181
July		785		4863	+115		45,193		284,360		+15,266
August		..		..	..		..		..		..
September		..		..	..		..		..		..
October		..		..	..		..		..		..
November		..		..	..		..		..		..
December		..		..	..		..		..		..

If you'd like to follow along, bookmark any of the "Labels" at the end of this post. Or just follow along on this blog.

As always, stay tuned on the regular SheppyBrew Channels to see what is happening with beer, barbeque, biking and other things in my life: SheppyBrew's Facebook Page; Sheppy's Twitter Feed; SheppyBrew's Instagram Page; and SheppyBrew's Website.

Cuttlefish Czech Amber Lager 🦑🍺

Style: Czech Amber Lager (Polotmavý Pivo)
Brewer: SheppyBrew
ABV: 5.2%
IBU: 34
SRM: 15 (deep amber)

Appearance 👀

Pours a shimmering amber with flashes of copper and coral in the light. Dense, off-white foam crowns the glass like sea foam on a tide-washed reef. Moderate clarity and sparkle give it a polished, nautical charm.

Aroma 👃

Crackling toast and caramelized malt surface first, chased by faint herbal hops and a splash of ocean breeze (or maybe just noble spice). There's a subtle, almost briny undertone—as if the grains were whispered over by cuttlefish sages.

Flavor 👅

Rich malty depth meets Czech restraint. Toasted bread and dried fruit glide into a crisp bitterness that anchors the beer. The finish is clean, dry, and slightly spicy—like a seafarer’s lager shared under moonlight.

Mouthfeel 🫦

Medium body with a smooth, silky texture. Moderate carbonation creates a gentle lift without disrupting the lager’s balance. It’s both easy-going and dignified, like a beer brewed for underwater diplomats.

Overall Impression 💭

Cuttlefish Czech Amber Lager is a deceptively simple brew with quiet complexity. Malt-forward but nimble, balanced with floral hops and built for repeat enjoyment. A true-to-style Czech amber with just enough character to make it SheppyBrew’s own.

The Legend of Cuttlefish Czech Amber Lager 📜

Beneath the frothy waves of Brewkelvin Bay, the SheppyBrew gnomes discovered an undersea brewing vault guarded by a peculiar creature—the wise and warty cuttlefish named Hrabal.

This cuttlefish wasn’t ordinary. He spoke fluent Czech, brewed with filtered coral water, and knew the secret to fermenting lagers that aged gracefully in shipwreck barrels.

Hrabal challenged the gnomes to brew a beer that could honor the land and sea. They accepted, diving deep into Czech brewing lore, adopting decoction methods and noble hop rituals—all while trading stories and smoked grains with their tentacled mentor.

The result: Cuttlefish Czech Amber Lager, a toast to tradition with a splash of maritime myth. Today, its tap handle features Hrabal holding a stein carved from shell, eyes gleaming with malty approval.

Drink it, and you might just hear the ocean whisper: "Na zdraví, little brewer."

As always, stay tuned on the regular SheppyBrew Channels to see what is happening with beer, barbeque, biking and other things in my life: SheppyBrew's Facebook Page; Sheppy's Twitter Feed; SheppyBrew's Instagram Page; and SheppyBrew's Website.

Voodu Magic Tropical Stout (Batch 379)

I brewed this past Sunday.

It was another beer to check off a new style in my BCJP Goal.

If I'm counting correctly, I've now brewed 87 of the 108 2021 BCJP styles.

As I mentioned in Cuttlefish Czech Amber Lager (Batch 378), I recently killed a couple of kegs, bringing me down to two kegs on tap, one of which (Halfway to Helles Leichtbier) is very close to being empty.

Since then, I packaged Gob Stopper Grape Ale and Cuttlefish Czech Amber Lager, so my beer inventory is looking pretty good.

But, I wanted to get this beer brewed ....

Voodu Magic Tropical Stout

 

Gob Stopper Grape Ale 🍇🧙‍♂️

Style: American Grape Ale
Brewer: SheppyBrew
ABV: 7.0%
IBU: 16
SRM: 7 (radiant violet)

Appearance 👀

Pours a soft purple with glowing edges—somewhere between wizard robe and melted grape popsicle. Medium white head fades quickly but leaves a ring like candy dust. Light haze gives it a whimsical, fairytale feel.

Aroma 👃

Concord grape front and center—like you just cracked open a juice box at recess. Beneath that: gentle floral honey, a whiff of grapevine must, and faint cereal notes from the malt. Nostalgic without being fake or flashy.

Flavor 👅

Tart grape onset morphs into gentle sweetness mid-palate, lifted by honey malt and clean fermentation. A crisp finish keeps it from going syrupy, and low bitterness balances the fruit. Tastes like if childhood had a craft beer sponsor.

Roll-a-Style 10: 29C. Specialty Fruit Beer

If you follow this blog at all, you probably have read that I want to concentrate more on my BJCP Goal this year.

As of the time of this post, if I'm counting correctly, I've brewed 86 of the 108 styles in the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines. Since the beginning of the year, I've already brewed 8 new BJCP styles (9 if you include Tasman Pilsner).

And ... I have ingredients and will probably brew my Roll-a-Style 15: 16C. Tropical Stout soon.

I have my Roll-a-Style list, which helps me keep track of styles that I still need to brew.

The idea is that I use a 20-sided online die to decide which style to brew next. 

In late-ish July, I was killing time one day and thought I'd spend time coming up with a new recipe. 

To figure out what beer I'd brew, I rolled my 20-sided online die, and rolled a 10 ... 

 

Hickory Smoked Mac and Cheese

So ... I don't make it a whole lot, but my kids REALLY like my smoked mac and cheese.

Well ... not just my kids. Just about anyone who has ever tried it has raved about it. I love it too. Unfortunately, it isn't the healthiest of meals, and that comes from someone who makes a ton of BBQ.

Anyway ... a couple weeks ago, my older son had his girlfriend over and my son requested that I make my smoked mac and cheese.

 

More SUP Photos

Well ... if you read this blog, you probably know that last weekend was my 2025 Triple Bypass Ride.

After the ride we spent the night in Avon. Then on Sunday, we drove back to the Denver area.

On the way home is Dillon Reservoir, and we thought it would be fun to do some paddling on the lake.

It is an absolutely gorgeous lake in amongst the mountains, and it was a beautiful sunny day.

It was a great day to be on the lake.

My photos never quite do justice to these spectacular views ... but still ... 

... here are some pictures ...