Mardi Blonde: A Festive Brew

Style: Belgian Blonde Ale
ABV: 7.4%
IBU: 25  

Mardi Blonde is a delightfully refreshing Belgian blonde ale with a lively personality. Pouring a radiant golden hue, this brew sparkles with clarity and invites you in with its enticing appearance. 

Aroma: The nose is greeted with a bouquet of light malt sweetness, delicate floral notes, and a hint of fruity esters reminiscent of ripe pears and apples. Subtle touches of honey and freshly baked bread add depth to the aromatic profile.

Flavor: On the palate, Mardi Blonde strikes a harmonious balance between malt and hops. The initial sip reveals a smooth malt backbone with flavors of biscuit and light caramel, followed by a gentle hop bitterness that lingers just long enough to create a crisp, clean finish. The nuanced flavors of citrus zest and white grape add a refreshing twist, making each sip more enjoyable than the last.

Modifying the Roll-a-Style List

So ... after posting Roll-a-Style 9: 26D. Belgian Dark Strong Ale, I decided to look a little closer at the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines.

First, I had never known exactly how many individual beer styles were listed in the guidelines, so I counted. 

If I counted correctly, there are 108 styles, and I've brewed 79 of them (actually, as I type this, I have not brewed the Belgian Dark Strong Ale, but once I brew it I will have completed 79).

I've mentioned that there are some styles I'm not really interested in brewing, and so I left those styles off my Roll-a-Style list. Most of these are sour beer styles, but as it turns out, a couple were ones I just didn't look closely at and thus didn't really understand.

 

Snowshoeing and Pulled Pork Green Chili

It has been quite awhile since I've been Snowshoeing.

I've even had "new" snowshoes since March of 2021 after my original pair fell apart. I've only put these new ones on once in snow and ended up taking them off almost immediately because it didn't seem like there was enough snow to make the snowshoes worth wearing.

This past week, we got a big snow storm on Friday.

This prompted my wife (aka the SheppyBrew Beer Model) to say she wanted to go snowshoeing Saturday.

Not knowing how long we'd be out, I decided to prepare some Pulled Pork Green Chili in the Crock Pot.

Oisin Owl Irish Stout (Batch 371)

I brewed this past Sunday.

This was already my 4th batch of beer of the year, and if I'm counting correctly, my 371st batch of beer I've ever brewed.

Of course, if you've been following along on this blog, you know that this year I'm concentrating on brewing BJCP styles that I've never brewed.

In the 16 years I've been brewing, I've brewed at least one beer in all 34 categories in the BJCP Style Guidelines, but now I've decided to check off most of the individual styles.

If you're curious, you can see which beers I've brewed in each category / style as of 2024 Update on the 2021 BJCP Goal.

And ... the beer I brewed this past Sunday was the 3rd new style in 2025 I've been able to mark off the list.... (4th if you count Tasman Devil Pilsner (batch 368))

Oisin Owl Irish Stout

Roll-a-Style 9: 26D. Belgian Dark Strong Ale

I've mentioned a few times that I want to concentrate more on my BJCP Goal and my Roll-a-Style list this year.

Late in 2024, I harvested yeast from Tafel Mystère Belgian Single (Batch 367), which I used to ferment Mardi Blonde (Batch 370) Birthday Brew.

I had 26D. Belgian Dark Strong Ale on my Roll-a-Style List, and thought it would be a good idea to use the whole yeast cake of Mardi Blonde to ferment such a big Belgium beer.

So, I pretended to roll a 9 on my 20 Sided Online Die.

 

Merida Scottish Ale

Venture into the mythical snowy Scottish Highlands with SheppyBrew's Merida Scottish Ale, an exquisite representation of the BJCP style 14A, Scottish Light Ale (60 Shilling). This brew showcases a deep amber hue crowned with a frothy, off-white head. The aroma greets you with rich malt sweetness, featuring notes of caramel and toffee. The flavor profile is a harmonious blend of roasted malt and delicate earthy hops, balanced by a mild bitterness that lingers just enough to invite the next sip. With an ABV of 3%, this Scottish Light Ale promises a sessionable yet flavorful journey for the true beer enthusiast.

D is for Denver Beer Company, Olde Town Arvada

If you've been following along on this blog, you probably know that we've been working on round 6 of our A to Z series of posts.

After A to Z Denver Breweries Round 5, we still have a ton of local breweries on Colorado Brewery Map & List that we've never visited.

We'll have to take "artistic license" on several letters (we already had to on A is for Arms, Call To Brewing Company), but I think we'll still be able to work through the whole alphabet.

You may remember that after C is for Cohesion Brewing Company, we skipped ahead to I is for Incantation Brewing.

Now we're back to our regularly scheduled program ... and we are ready to hit "D" ... 

D is for Denver Beer Company, Olde Town Arvada

Mardi Blonde (Batch 370) Birthday Brew

Here it is ... February already.

We've made it through January and the Groundhog (or Marmot ... whatever your rodent of choice) has seen its shadow.

My plan was to brew on Sunday, but my birthday is early February and my kids decided they would like to celebrate it Sunday.

So ... I postponed the brew day.

The recipe I had picked to brew called for an overnight mash and a shorter-than-usual boil, which meant it wouldn't take quite as long a brew day.

So, on Monday I decided I would brew on Tuesday before work (which was actually my birth day).

Mardi Blonde

Tasman Devil Pilsner

Tasman Devil Pilsner, brewed by SheppyBrew Home Brewery, is a mesmerizing brew that dances gracefully on the palate with its pale, dry, golden hue. This elegantly fermented masterpiece showcases a symphony of flavors, harmonizing crisp, clean malt with a whisper of subtle hops. Each sip reveals a delicate balance of bright, floral notes and a refreshing, dry finish that lingers like a gentle breeze. With an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 5.5% and International Bitterness Units (IBU) of 30, this Pilsner offers a moderate hop bitterness that complements its light, refreshing body. 

Legend has it that the recipe for Tasman Devil Pilsner was crafted by the magical brewing gnomes of SheppyBrew. These tiny, industrious beings gathered on Eldoria Isle, a hidden gem in the Tasman Sea, where they met with the New Zealand kea and the Australian kookaburra to collaborate on brew day. As the brewing gnomes toiled, the fearless Tasmanian Devil kept a watchful eye, ensuring the perfect balance of ingredients.

Crafted with the finest hops, including Motueka from New Zealand and the unique Eclipse from Australia, this Pilsner embodies the harmony of its enchanted origins. Each batch is a celebration of craftsmanship and a tribute to the timeless tradition of fine beer-making, infused with a touch of magic and the spirit of collaboration between mythical creatures and nature's wonders.

Roll-a-Style 12: 15C. Irish Extra Stout

I've mentioned a few times that I want to concentrate more on my BJCP Goal and my Roll-a-Style list this year.

Early in the year, I brewed Merida Scottish Ale, using harvested Irish Ale Yeast, and I wanted to continue that yeast with an Irish Ale.

I have 15C. Irish Extra Stout on the Roll-a-Style List and with St. Patrick's Day coming up, I thought that would be a great beer to have on tap for this holiday.

So, I pretended to roll a 12

Which, of course corresponded to the 15C. Irish Extra Stout.
 

I is for Incantation Brewing

If you follow this blog, you probably know that the SheppyBrew Beer Model is forcing me to continue along with round 6 of the A to Z series of posts.

We recently finished up A to Z Denver Breweries Round 5, and while we certainly have a bunch of breweries left on the Colorado Brewery Map & List, I wasn't sure if we'd continue along with the A to Z series of posts.

But, apparently, my wife is sure, and we're continuing.

Happy wife. Happy life. 

And ... so far we've made it through C is for Cohesion Brewing Company. We posted that article early this month.

And as you know, after "C" comes ... "I".

I is for Incantation Brewing 

Roll-a-Style 1: 25A. Belgian Blond Ale

I've mentioned a few times on this blog that I want to concentrate more on my BJCP Goal and my Roll-a-Style list this year.

I have harvested Belgian Ale Yeast from Tafel Mystère Belgian Single (Batch 367), and since I have a few somewhat high ABV Belgium styles to work through on the list, I decided to actually plan stepping up the harvested yeast rather than wait for the random roll to get to these styles.

The first Belgium on the list is 25A. Belgian Blond Ale, and so ....

I pretended to roll:

 

Merida Scottish Light Ale (Batch 369)

2025 is flying by, isn't it?

As I mentioned a few times recently, I'm not going to brew very many (if any) "Seasonals" this year, concentrating instead on the BJCP Goal.

I'd really like to mark off several BJCP Styles that I've never brewed.

Of course, who knows how well I'll follow-up on this plan. It is very possible that I'll get caught up with something else. But, follow along on this blog, and you'll find out.

At the same time I bought ingredients for the Tasman Devil Pilsner (batch 368), I bought ingredients for another brew ....

If you read Roll-a-Style 8: 14A. Scottish Light Ale, you probably know what beer that is ...

Merida Scottish Light Ale

2024 #Strava #YearInSport

If you've been following along on this blog for awhile, you may remember that I have been sharing my Strava YearInSport stats over the past couple of years.

I pay more attention to my cycling goals and totals on Strava, but the YearInSport stats cover all activities.

Sort of interesting to me. Not sure if any blog readers care, but I'll share regardless. To be honest, this just helps me compare year-to-year how I do.

 

Roll-a-Style 8: 14A. Scottish Light Ale

As I mentioned in 2025 Roll-a-Style List, I'd really like to concentrate a little more on my BJCP Goal, and my Roll-a-Style List this year.

I have some Irish Ale Yeast harvested from Hooligans Stout, which I brewed in November.

There were a few Scottish Ales on the Roll-a-Style List, and I decided that the Irish Ale yeast would work well in those beers. I decided to tackle the 14A. Scottish Light Ale (60 Shilling) first.

So, I pretended to roll an 8 on my 20 Sided Online Die. This corresponds to the 14A. Scottish Light Ale on my list.

 

Tasman Devil Pilsner (batch 368)

Well ... here it is 2025 already. Happy Brew Year!

As I mentioned in SheppyBrew 2024 Year End Brewing Stats, in 2024 I brewed my lowest volume of brewed beer since 2018.

I didn't even get to 100 gallons, which also has not happened since 2018.

I expect 2025 will yield about the same amount of beer, but I guess we'll have to see.

With holiday guests and other cheer, my beer inventory is getting a little low, and for quite awhile I've been wanting to get a New Zealand Pilsner on tap.

So ... this past weekend I brewed:

Tasman Devil Pilsner

2025 Roll-a-Style List

Well ... if you've been following along on this blog, you know I've decided to concentrate on renewing my  BJCP Goal with a "Roll-a-Style" list.

The concept is pretty simple. I have a list of beer styles that I have not brewed. I assign numbers (1 - 20) to the styles. When I want to brew something new, I roll a 20 Sided Online Die, and brew that style associated with the number I rolled.

Sometimes I actually pick the style I want to brew and "pretend" I rolled the die, but either way, I'm working the list down of styles that I've never brewed.

There are more than 20 beers, so I include a "bench" of beers to move into the list once another gets brewed.

There are some beer styles I decided not to include because I know I won't like drinking them.

When I was going through 2024 Update on the 2021 BJCP Goal, I realized that there are some beer styles that are not on my list, but probably should be.

So ... I decided to add a few more beer styles to my "bench".

SheppyBrew 2024 Year End Brewing Stats

Well ... as I'm typing this, I'm not 100% sure I'm done brewing in 2024, but I think I am.

So ... I'll go ahead and type up the draft of my 2024 Brewing Stats. And when you're reading this, you probably won't know if I ended up brewing again or not because it will no longer be a draft and I will have updated based on the (potentially) last brew of the year.

Anyway ... in the 4th quarter of 2024, I brewed 5 batches of beer:

• Will-o'-Wisp Autumn Ale (no pumpkin)
• Pack o' Hooligans Stout
• X-Mas Ale 2024
• Decemberfest Lager
• Tafel Mystère Belgium Single

This puts me at 19 batches of beer for 95 gallons. This is the least amount I've brewed since 2018, which was the last time I brewed less than 100 gallons for a year.

Will-o'-Wisp Autumn Ale (no pumpkin)

C is for Cohesion Brewing Company

If you follow this blog, you probably know that the SheppyBrew Beer Model is forcing me to continue along with round 6 of the A to Z series of posts.

We recently finished up A to Z Denver Breweries Round 5, and while we certainly have a bunch of breweries left on the Colorado Brewery Map & List, I wasn't sure if we'd continue along with the A to Z series of posts.

But, apparently, my wife is sure, and we're continuing.

Happy wife. Happy life. 

So, after B is for Barrels & Bottles Brewery, we needed a "B" brewery, and the SheppyBrew Beer Model let me know that we would be visiting ....

C is for Cohesion Brewing Company

2024 Update on the 2021 BJCP Goal

If you follow this blog, you know I've renewed my old BJCP Goal.

Through a series of blog posts, I've discovered / acknowledged that I had not brewed whole categories in the 2021 Style Guidelines (see BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines, I lied, and 2021 BCJP Styles to Brew).

Since then, I've covered all the categories (or at least I'm pretty sure I have now) ... 

And .... at some point, I decided to not only try to get every category covered, but work through all the styles (at least the ones that I'm interested in drinking)

I even came up with a "Roll-a-Style" concept to give me help deciding which style to brew.

At the end of last year, I posted 2023 Update on the 2021 BJCP Goal. I thought I'd post another update at the end of 2024. 

Here is that post ...

In 2024, I've only reduced my Roll-a-Style list by 5 beer styles. Instead, I concentrated on 2024 Seasonals.

In 2025, I'm planning on hitting the Roll-a-Style list harder. My unofficial goal is to reduce the list enough that I'll be rolling a 12 sided die by the end of the year (as opposed to the 20 sided die I've been rolling).

Keep an eye on Sheppy's Blog: Roll-a-Style, and you'll be able to follow along how I'm doing. 

December #7100MilesIn2024 Progress

I do realize that no one really cares about my Strava goals, but honestly, I'm not sure there are many people who read this blog.

So, these posts are more for me to remind myself how things went during the year.

And ... well ... I blew away my #11EverestsIn2024 goal and my #7100MilesIn2024 goals. 

I actually cycled just under 650 miles in December, which is a bunch for a winter month, putting my 2024 total at 8,062 miles. 

I gained 31,464 feet in elevation for the month, putting me at 409,081 feet of elevation gained for the year. 

I've also extended my #MetricCenturyEveryMonth streak to 41 straight months with at least one 100 km (62.2 miles) ride.

 

2024 Seasonals

Early in 2022, I spent some time identifying "SheppyBrew Seasonals". I tied a specific SheppyBrew beer to every month in the year.

For whatever reason, after the year was done I shared 2022 Seasonals I had brewed during the year. I had brewed all but 3 of the "Seasonals".

I reported on the 2023 Seasonals as well, missing 4 months. Now that I've established the pattern, I feel like I have to share my brewed "Seasonals" for 2024.

I actually made it a brewing goal in 2024 to brew all my "SheppyBrew Seasonals". Around July or August, I got tired of the idea, but I had hit all the months so far, so I forced myself to finish them up.

2024 Mardi Bock