G is for Golden City Brewery

Well ... you probably know that I've been doing a ton of riding for the Great Cycle Challenge this month.

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed that last Saturday, I passed up my 1000 mile September.

If you paid attention to Saturday's Instagram post, you also noticed which "G" brewery we picked.

I started off the morning with a 57 mile ride (see #GCCUSA2022 Ride #32), which actually got me over the 1000 mile September.

When I returned, my wife (aka the SheppyBrew Beer Model) wanted to go on a bike ride too.

So ... we headed out on a ride together (see #GCCUSA2022 Ride #33), and headed out to our "G" brewery.

G is for Golden City Brewery

Jethro Bud Nelson (Batch 319)

I took a little "break" Sunday from all my GCC Riding (sort of).

I had a blood donation in the morning, and so I decided that I would not be doing anything long.

Since I had not brewed in awhile ... last time was August 28th (see Brian Phelps Pale Ale (Batch 318)) ... I thought it would be a good idea to brew beer on a weekend day on which I was not riding a bunch.

So ... I brewed Sunday.

The beer I brewed was one that I brewed earlier in the year ...

I really enjoyed this light refreshing lager ... and my wife's family drank most of it 

Jethro Bud Nelson Merican Lite Lager

Halfway through #GCCUSA2022

It is the 15th of September. We're about halfway through The Great Cycle Challenge.

I've pledged to ride 1000 miles over the course of September to raise money and awareness for the Children's Cancer Research Fund.

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/EricShepard

Halfway through the month, to be "on track", I need to have completed 500 miles.

I'm a little over that, so I'm doing well.

 

Wednesday Smoked Mac & Cheese

It is time for my oldest son to go back to college, and my wife asked him if he had any requests for meals before he left us.

As always, one of the meals he requested was Smoked Mac and Cheese.

Can't really blame him. My Smoked Mac and Cheese is delicious.

Usually I cook during the weekends and my wife cooks during the week. 

I work at home, so there isn't really a reason I shouldn't cook during the week. My wife just doesn't usually want to let me. 

But for various reasons I wasn't able to get it in the weekend between when it was requested and the weekend he has to return.

So ... I made this batch of Mac and Cheese this past Wednesday. 

N.T.S. Faux vs Actual Pilsner

At the end of July, I brewed a double batch of N.T.S. Faux Pilsner. See Double Batch of N.T.S.

N.T.S. Faux Pilsner was created a Faux Pilsner fermented with Kveik yeast at high temperatures as an experiment to see if I could brew a lager-like beer fermented with crazy-high Kveik fermentation temperatures.

The original NTS batch was a nice beer, but I didn't consider it "lager-like".

One of the reasons I brewed the Double Batch of N.T.S was that I could brew half with Kveik yeast and half with lager yeast and see if I could tell the difference.

Last week, I did a "blind" triangle test to see if I could tell the two beers apart.

F is for FlyteCo Tower

I don't know if you caught it, but in Back to Back Century Rides, I told you to "Stay tuned for F is for ... "

Well ... no need to wait any further ... today is the day you get to see that F is for post I promised.

In case you are wondering what the hell I'm talking about ...

Back in February of 2015, I was embarrassed by the huge number of Denver Breweries that I had never visited.

It struck me that if I went down the list, the starting letters of the brewery names represented almost every letter of the alphabet. That was when I started my A to Z Denver Breweries Project on this blog.

I finished Round 1 in February of 2019.

I got through round 2 by November of 2020. I finished round 3 in May of 2022. Now I'm working through round 4.

On Saturday, during my break of the second of two Century Rides, my wife (aka The SheppyBrew Beer Model) wanted to go out to lunch at the "F Brewery" we had picked out.

F is for FlyteCo Tower

Back to Back Century Rides

If you follow me at all on this blog or facebook or instagram .. you know that the Great Cycle Challenge has begun.

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/EricShepard

I've pledged to ride 1000 miles over the course of September to raise money and awareness for the Children's Cancer Research Fund.

1000 miles is a lot of miles. To accomplish it, I have to average 33.3 miles a day, which isn't too bad physically, but takes quite a bit of time.

Brian Phelps Pale Ale (Batch 318)

I'm getting ready to start riding for my Great Cycle Challenge. My 1000 miles starts September 1st, and I'll ride over the course of September to reach that 1000 mile milestone. 

Over the 7 years I've ridden for the challenge, I've "met" several people on the facebook group and on Strava and who I consider friends.

On of my favorites is a dude named Brian Phelps.

Over the years, we've established a friendly competition. We keep an eye on each others' rides and yearly totals. 

I hope that I inspire him almost as much as he inspires me.

When it comes right down to it, it isn't much of a competition. I am always ahead of him early in the year, but it doesn't take long for him to catch me and pass me up.

#GCCUSA Tribute Day Pictures

We're getting close!! In September, I'll be cycling 1000 miles in September to help raise awareness and money to fight childhood cancer.

It is called the Great Cycle Challenge.

If you'd like to help out, head to my "Rider Page" at 

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/EricShepard

Buena Vista Photos

As I mentioned in E is for Eddyline Brewery, my wife (aka the SheppyBrew Beer Model) and I spent the weekend in Buena Vista, Colorado this past weekend.

Our wedding anniversary is coming up, and this was a weekend get-away as a sort of pre-celebration of our 27th.

Yes, for some reason, she's put up with me for almost 27 years.

In addition to visiting a brewery, we also spent time biking and hiking.

We also brought a kayak and her paddle 

The weather wasn't the best, but a weekend in the mountains is always great even when the weather isn't perfect.

Here are some pictures from the weekend ....

E is for Eddyline Brewery

As you know if you've been following the A to Z Denver Breweries series of posts, the SheppyBrew Beer Model and I decided to push on with the 4th round of the project.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted D is for Denver Beer Company - Downing, so obviously we needed an "E" brewery.

As I mentioned in that post, According to the Colorado Brewery Map & List, we had a bit of a challenge coming up with a brewery to use for "E".

One thing I didn't share in that post, though, was that the Beer Model (aka my wife) and I had a weekend get-away planned to Buena Vista, which is a couple hour drive from Denver.

This past weekend, we took that trip and located in Buena Vista ... is a brewery whose name starts with the letter "E" ...

E is for Eddyline Brewery

August Chatfield Kayak / SUP Photos

Saturday morning, I got up early and rode my bike up to Evergreen and back down to my house.

I call this my Evergreen Loop.

It was only a 43 mile, 3 mile ride, but it was almost 3,700 feet of climbing.

When I returned from the bike ride, my wife (aka The SheppyBrew Beer Model) informed me that we would be going to Chatfield Reservoir to Kayak and Paddle Board.

The kids were not going. So, just me and the Beer Model.

It was a hot August day, which meant that lots of people were out at Chatfield Reservoir, but we were early enough that our normal spot to park wasn't very full at all.

Double Batch of N.T.S.

So, last year, I came up with a recipe for N.T.S. Faux Pilsner, which was an experiment to see if I could ferment a lager-like beer at a hot fermentation temperature with LalBrew Voss - Kveik Ale Yeast.

In my various brewing forums, lots of people say they make "pseudo-lagers" with various Kveik yeasts at higher temperatures.

The N.T.S. Faux Pilsner was a nice beer, but it was not very lager-like in my opinion.

The Voss - Kveik Ale Yeast imparts a very ale-like character. It is great for Pale Ales and IPA's. I even tried it out in my McShepardSons "Irish" Ale.

I just wouldn't consider it for "lager" beers.

Regardless, I liked the N.T.S. Faux Pilsner, and wanted to brew it again. I brewed it last Sunday.

I've gotten to a point where I'm low-ish on beer, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to brew a double batch to help get my beer supply back to normal levels.

D is for Denver Beer Company - Downing

As you know if you've been following the A to Z Denver Breweries series of posts, the SheppyBrew Beer Model and I decided to push on with the 4th round of the project.

Towards the end of July, I posted C is for Comet Brews, and I'm sure you know if you are familiar with the concept and the English alphabet, next up we needed a "D" brewery.

According to the Colorado Brewery Map & List, we had a ton of "D" breweries that we could choose from.

You may also know that on Saturday I completed my First Century Ride of 2022.

If you were paying attention to that post, you probably already know which brewery we chose.

D is for Denver Beer Company - Downing

 

First Century Ride of 2022

This past Saturday, I did my first Century Bike Ride of 2002.

Yep, 100 miles.
That's right ... On my bicycle.
Yep, in one day.
No, my butt is fine.
Nope, I'm not crazy.
Yes, I know you don't like to drive that far.

If you've been following me, on this blog, you know I'm "training" for September. 

In September, I'm riding 1,000 miles to help raise awareness and money for the Children's Cancer Research Fund with the Great Cycle Challenge.

If you can afford it and are against childhood cancer, you should donate some money to help with the cause. If you want to help my fundraising effort ... you can donate at

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/EricShepard

Drinking my Merican Lite Lager

I brewed Jethro Bud Nelson Merican Lite Lager (Batch 312) on June 12th. It was kegged on June 28th. 

We had a trip scheduled to Lake of the Ozarks with the Beer Model's sisters and brother and their families, and as the adults in that group are mostly BMC beer drinkers I thought they might like to try the Merican Lite Lager.

So, I tried to refrain from drinking until we went on the trip. But, the weekend before, I spent some time comparing the Jethro Bud Nelson to some other American Light Lagers.

Tivoli Brewing Company makes an American Light Lager called Outlaw that I've really started to enjoy over the past few months, and I thought it would be the most logical comparison.

On Track for #10Everestsin2022

It is only about a month before I start riding for the 2022 Great Cycle Challenge to help fight kid's cancer.

I'm pledging to ride 1000 miles in September and asking sponsors to donate money to the Children's Cancer Research Fund, which is a national nonprofit dedicated to ending childhood cancer.

I've been doing this since 2016, and in total I've raised over $15,000 thanks to generous friends and family.

I'm hoping to raise $2500 this year. Right now I'm at $931.50. Most of most my most generous past donors have not donated yet, so $2500 is certainly likely.

If you'd like to help out, head to my "Rider Page" at 

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/EricShepard

Last Minute Brew Day

My parents were visiting this past weekend, and because of that, I had no plans to brew.

When we were talking about things we might do on Sunday, my dad asked me what I would usually do on a Sunday if they were not here.

As most of my Brew Days are on Sunday, brewing beer came up as something I might do on a Sunday.

He thought it might interest them to watch me brew.

Since I didn't have any grains my initial reaction was that brewing wasn't really a realistic option.

But ... one of the wonderful things about living where I do is that I have access to multiple Homebrew Shops within reasonable driving distance.

I called Tom's Brew Shop to make sure they were open on Sundays. They are. I was actually surprised to learn that they open at 9AM on Sundays. I sort of assumed 10AM.

C is for Comet Brews

As you know if you've been following the A to Z Denver Breweries series of posts, the SheppyBrew Beer Model and I decided to push on with the 4th round of the project.

Not too long ago I started with A is for A Bit Twisted Brewpub.

Then, I continued on with B is for Bull and Bush Brewery.

As I mentioned last time, according to the Colorado Brewery Map & List, we had a ton of "C" breweries that we could choose from.

A couple of weekends ago, my wife (aka, the SheppyBrew Beer Model) wanted to get out on her bike. It was really hot and so neither of us really wanted to go real far.

It just so happens that we have a "C" brewery right in downtown Littleton, which is a nice little bike ride from our house.

C is for Comet Brews

Smoked Mac and Cheese with Ham

I've mentioned before on this blog many times that my family really loves Smoked Mac and Cheese.

I never follow the recipe exactly, but it is based on what I have in my original Smoked Mac and Cheese blog post.

I made some Smoked Mac and Cheese a couple weeks ago.

Usually, I add bacon, but this time, part of the reason I made it was to use up the ham that I had vacuum sealed and frozen from last Easter Ham I made.

Other than replacing the bacon with ham, I didn't really make any major modifications.

It turned out awesome. I really liked the ham in the dish, although it really is difficult to beat bacon.

Here are some pictures: