Roll-a-Style 16: 26C. Belgian Tripel

Well ... if you follow this blog at all, you are familiar with my BJCP Goal and Roll-a-Style list.

Of course, the idea is that I have a list of beer styles that I've never brewed. I roll a virtual 20-sided online die, and brew the style that corresponds with the number that comes up.

Originally, I had 20 beers on the list and several on "the bench". I've reduced the list so that I'm still rolling a 20-sided die, but not all the numbers have a style assigned to them. In fact, soon I'll be rolling a 12 sided die.

You also likely know that quite often I know what I want to brew next and "pretend" to roll that die to correspond with the style I want to brew next.

Part of the reason I recently picked Tafel Mystère Belgian Single (Batch 383) to brew was to build up some Belgian yeast so that I could get to a style I've had on the list since the debut of the list.

So ... I pretended to roll a 16

Tafel Mystère Belgian Single (Batch 383)

I brewed last Friday morning.

Friday!??! Yes Friday.

As I mentioned on Gnomeberry Hollow Cherry Porter (Batch 382), my homebrew inventory is pretty low right now, and I potentially might be hosting a brew day on the 8th of November.

Homebrewers tend to drink beer when they get together, and need a decent selection.

So ... just in case, I thought I'd better get at least one more batch of beer in that would be ready to serve in early November.

I actually THINK I'll be heading over to Doc's Brewery, but we have not finalized plans, and it is better to be safe than sorry.

So ... Friday I decided to do a quick "Short and Shoddy" type brew and brewed:

Tafel Mystère Belgian Single

 

Double Spare Ribs

So ... remember not too long ago I did "hot and fast" Individual Spare Ribs for the first time.

I really liked how they turned out.

The past Tuesday I had another rack of Spare Ribs, and decided I would do something similar.

I trimmed the ribs on Tuesday morning. This time, I cut them into pairs of two ribs instead of the singles I did last time.

Then, I applied rub and let them sit until the afternoon.

As I mentioned in Individual Spare Ribs, I thought I could have put them on the grill about half an hour later than I did. This time I did wait and got them on just after 3:30 for a 6pm supper time.

Gnomeberry Hollow Cherry Porter (Batch 382)

I brewed Sunday. 

I've gotten myself into a situation where I'm running low on beer "inventory". The last time I brewed before this batch was 1519 Barker Exportbier (Batch 361) in early September.

And this ... with Learn to Homebrew Day coming up ...

I'll probably be brewing quite a few batches between now and November, which is likely to put me in the opposite situation.

Anyway ... I posted about this recipe back in JULY ... Roll-a-Style 10: 29C. Specialty Fruit Beer, but I took a break on the Roll-a-Style beers with Johnny McClure Rainier Lager and 1519 Barker Exportbier.

Plus, I thought the name was more appropriate to brew in October. Now ... it's time to get back into it ...

Gnomeberry Hollow Cherry Porter

 

Roll-a-Style 20: 17D. English Barley Wine (X-Mas Ale 2025)

Every year since I started homebrewing (way back in 2009), I've brewed an X-Mas Ale to have around the holidays.

The base beer was always a very similar "Winter Warmer", and I'd add various ingredients to make it more of a "Holiday" Beer.

Over the years, I added wood spirals, vanilla, cherry pomegranate, chocolate, peppermint, peanut butter, hazelnut, cherry, and many other flavorings.

But, if you follow this blog at all, you probably have read that I want to concentrate more on my BJCP Goal this year, and when I was thinking about brewing my 2025 X-Mas Ale, I wanted to pick a style on my Roll-a-Style list.

Looking through the list, I decided that the closest to my "traditional" X-Mas Ale recipe was 17D. English Barley Wine.

So, I pretended to roll a 20 on my 20-sided online die.

 

2025 Q3 SheppyBrew Stats

Here it is October already. We're over three quarters through the year! 2025 is flying by.

At the SheppyBrew Brewery, Q3 was another lighter than average brewing quarter, with only 4 batches of beer and 20 gallons of beer.

This means we've brewed 14 batches and 70 gallons so far in 2025, putting us on track to hit 92 gallons this year.

I don't expect I'll pick up my volume all that much in Q4, but I guess we'll have to see how it goes.

My Q3 batches were:

• Cuttlefish Czech Amber Lager
• Voodu Magic Tropical Stout
• Johnny McClure Rainier Lager
• 1519 Barker Exportbier

As I'm typing this, Cuttlefish is gone, and Voodu Magic, Johnny McClure, and 1519 Barker are still "on tap". 

Cuttlefish Czech Amber Lager

 

Finished #GCCUSA2025

If you follow this blog or any of my socials, you know that I finished up the 2025 Great Cycle Challenge at the end of September.

There is still plenty of time to donate if you'd like to help fight childhood cancer. You can do that on my rider page: 

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/riders/EricShepard.

During the month, I logged 49 outdoor rides along with 1 indoor one for a total of 1,210 miles. On those rides, I climbed a total of 52,769 vertical feet.

More importantly, I raised $3,384 for cancer research, thanks to all my generous sponsors. 

Another successful GCC!

Johnny McClure vs Rainier Lager

If you follow along on this blog, you know that after my wife and I visited the Seattle area, I brewed a beer that I called Johnny McClure Rainier Lager.

It was inspired by a beer I remember seeing a lot when I was a kid living in Washington, Rainier Beer, but I wasn't really looking to clone Rainier at all. I purposely added more hops than Rainier to make it a SheppyBrew recipe.

Regardless, this past weekend I thought I'd pour my beer next to Rainier and compare the two.

#GCCUSA2025 Jersey Shots

As you know if you've been following along, I'm riding 1200 miles this month as part of the Great Cycle Challenge.

If you'd like to help out with a donation ... here is my rider page:

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/riders/EricShepard

I've been doing this thing every year for the past 10 years and over that time have collected quite of few GCC Jerseys.

As of a couple days ago, I've taken selfies of all these jerseys (other than 2016, which doesn't fit me and is now in my wife's closet).

Here are those photos:

2025 Jersey

 

Individual Spare Ribs

So ... I have not shared any of my BBQ adventures recently.

I've been smoking / grilling every week, but just have not had anything I've taken the time to share.

Sunday, I did something new, though.

I've tried various ways to smoke BBQ Spare Ribs. all of which take several hours to make.

On various BBQ forums, I've seen pit masters do ribs "hot and fast". Some of them cut the ribs into individuals before putting on the grill.

Theoretically, individual ribs cook faster than a big rack of ribs.

With all the riding I'm doing this month, long cooks are a little more difficult to pull off. So, I decided to give this technique a try on Sunday.

#GCCUSA2025 Half-way Done

Today (the day I'm typing ... not the day this posts) is the 16th of September, which means I'm about half-way done with my 1,200 mile Great Cycle Challenge.

You can donate or follow along at my fundraising page at:

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/riders/EricShepard

🍺 Johnny McClure Rainier Lager

“Born in the woods. Refined in Gorst. Brewed by gnomes.”

Style: 'Merican Light Lager
Brewer: SheppyBrew
ABV: 4.9%
IBU: 16
SRM: 3.4

Appearance

Pours a pale straw gold with brilliant clarity and a tight, snowy white head. Effervescent bubbles race upward like a mountain stream, forming a persistent cap that laces the glass with each sip.

Aroma

Clean and subtle with hints of grainy malt, a whisper of corn sweetness, and a gentle floral lift from classic American hops. There’s a faint herbal edge that nods to the evergreens of the Pacific Northwest.

1519 Barker Exportbier (Batch 361)

If you've been following my Great Cycle Challenge, you know that I've been pushing pretty hard to log miles this month.

I've already done my 2nd Century of the Challenge, and as I type this I've logged over 500 miles on my bikes.

Sunday, I decided to take a bit of a break, and brew some beer.

I'm still taking a bit of a break from my Roll-a-Style list, and I thought I'd brew another lager.

You may remember that last September I brewed 1519 Barker Exportbier (Batch 361), which was a tribute to my college days.

There were enough issues with the first batch that I knew I'd like to brew it again.

This seemed like a good time to get the 2nd batch done.

1519 Barker Exportbier

 

My second #GCCUSA2025 Century

On Saturday, I accomplished my second Century of my Great Cycle Challenge.

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.

I have committed to riding 1,200 miles over the course of September, and so I need to get long rides in. 

I always try to get a good start over the beginning of the month so that I'm not worrying about miles towards the end of the month when who knows what the weather will be like or what else might be going on.

By the time you read this, I will probably have gone on several more GCC rides. If you'd like to follow along or make a donation ... follow the link:

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/EricShepard

August 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

My first #GCCUSA2025 Century Ride

On Monday, I accomplished my first Century Ride since the Triple Bypass Ride back in July.

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.

I have committed to riding 1,200 miles over the course of September. 

I always try to get a good start over the first few days and the long Labor Day Weekend so that I'm not worrying about miles towards the end of the month when who knows what the weather will be like or what else might be going on.

By the time you read this, I will probably have gone on several GCC rides. If you'd like to follow along or make a donation ... follow the link:

https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/EricShepard

2025 Tribute Day Photos

Here it is ... September already. 

As you know if you follow me at all, I'll be cycling 1,200 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

 

Johnny McClure Rainier Lager (Batch 380)

So ... if you've been following along on this blog, you know that this year I've been concentrating on my BJCP Goal and the Roll-a-Style list when it comes to brewing beers.

I've brewed 87 of the 108 styles in the 2021 BJCP Guidelines.

This year, I've brewed 9 new BJCP styles.

I recently decided I wanted to brew a non-Roll-a-Style batch.

As I mentioned in the Seattle Trip posts, my wife and I recently visited Washing State.

I used to live in Washington, and while I never drank as a child, I remember Rainier Beer being around.

Washington Trip ... More Seattle Photos

As I posted in Washington Trip ... Rain Forest Photos and Washington Trip ... Beach Photos, my wife (aka the SheppyBrew Beer Model) and I recently took a trip to Washington state.

The first few days, we spent in and around Olympic National Park, which is geographically / environmentally very diverse.  Olympic National Park has rain forests. It has mountains. It has ocean - front beaches.

In Washington Trip ... Rain Forest Photos we shared photos from the first couple of days.

In Washington Trip ... Beach Photos we shared photos by the beach on day 2 and then a few more a little later in the week.

Washington Trip ... Mountain Photos we shared some Mountain Photos 

Washington Trip ... Seattle Photos we shared some photos in and around Seattle.

And .. now ... here are more photos in and around Seattle:

 

Washington Trip ... Seattle Photos

 As I posted in Washington Trip ... Rain Forest Photos and Washington Trip ... Beach Photos, my wife (aka the SheppyBrew Beer Model) and I recently took a trip to Washington state.

The first few days, we spent in and around Olympic National Park, which is geographically / environmentally very diverse.  Olympic National Park has rain forests. It has mountains. It has ocean - front beaches.

In Washington Trip ... Rain Forest Photos we shared photos from the first couple of days.

In Washington Trip ... Beach Photos we shared photos by the beach on day 2 and then a few more a little later in the week.

Washington Trip ... Mountain Photos we shared some Mountain Photos 

And .. now ... here are photos in and around Seattle: