Jethro Bud Nelson Merican Lite Lager
Brewed: 9/18/2022 Kegged: 10/1/2022
The SheppyBrew Beer Master has known the SheppyBrew Beer Model since she was a sophomore at Bradley University.
As I shared in Mr. Awesome Merican Lager, she was really into her first college boyfriend, and I had to work very hard at stealing her from "Mr. Awesome".
In addition to worrying about Mr. Awesome winning her back, I had another concern .... the Beer Model's parents really did not like me.
Death threat were involved, but I won't go into that.

I lived in such fear of the in-laws-to-be that when they visited their daughter at Bradley University, I put on a disguise and snuck around campus so that if I ran into them, they would not recognize me.
Sunglasses. Farmer hat. Flannel shirt. The perfect disguise.
Just in case, I told people to call me "Jethro" so that the Beer Model's parents wouldn't recognize the "Shep" or "Sheppy" name if they overheard.
Jethro Bud Nelson.
I was able to survive the visit. Eventually, even though they still don't really approve, they eventually accepted me. Now we've been married for almost 27 years, the likelihood that the in-laws will actually follow through on their death-threats isn't real high.
In honor of my alter-ego, I created a beer that I think Jethro Bud Nelson would enjoy.
A crisp, refreshing, Merican Lite Lager is obviously something Jethro Bud Nelson would drink in quantity while slinking around trying to avoid those who would rather cause him bodily harm than let him date their daughter.

On untappd: Jethro Bud Nelson Merican Lite Lager
For more on this beer, see Sheppy's Blog: Jethro Bud
Jethro Bud Nelson Merican Lite --- Batch 2 (319) |
Style | American Light Lager | Batch Size | 5.50 gal | |||
Type | All Grain | Boil Size | 6.60 gal | |||
Brewhouse Efficiency | 68.00 | Boil Time | 60 minutes |
Recipe Characteristics
Recipe Gravity | 1.040 SG | Estimated FG | 1.009 SG | ||||
Recipe Bitterness | 13.0 IBUs (Rager) | Alcohol by Volume | 4.1 % | ||||
BU : GU | 0.322 | ||||||
Recipe Color | 3.0 SRM |
|
|||||
Measured OG: | 1.040 | Measured FG: | 1.007 | ||||
ADF: | 82 | Measured ABV: | 4.3% |
Ingredients
Amt | Name | Type | # | %/IBU | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7.67 gal | Denver, Colorado | Water | 1 | - | - |
5.00 g | Calcium Chloride (Mash) | Water Agent | 2 | - | - |
3.00 g | Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash) | Water Agent | 3 | - | - |
1.50 tsp | Lactic Acid (Mash) | Water Agent | 4 | - | - |
7 lbs 4.0 oz | Base Malt 2 Row (Proximity) (2.0 SRM) | Grain | 5 | 82.9 % | 0.57 gal |
1 lbs 8.0 oz | Corn, Flaked (1.3 SRM) | Grain | 6 | 17.1 % | 0.12 gal |
1.00 Items | Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) | Fining | 7 | - | - |
1.00 tsp | Yeast Nutrient (Boil 15.0 mins) | Other | 8 | - | - |
1.000 oz | Magnum [15.80 %] - Boil 10.0 min | Hop | 9 | 13.0 IBUs | - |
1.0 pkg | Saflager Lager (DCL/Fermentis #W-34/70) [50.28 ml] | Yeast | 10 | - | - |
0.50 tsp | Gelatin (Bottling 2.0 days) | Fining | 11 | - | - |
Mash Profile
Name | Description | Step Temperature | Step Time |
---|---|---|---|
Saccharification | Add 30.96 qt of water at 157.5 F | 152.0 F | 45 min |
Heat | Heat to 158.0 F over 10 min | 158.0 F | 15 min |
Mash Out | Heat to 170.0 F over 7 min | 170.0 F | 10 min |
If steeping, remove grains,
and prepare to boil wort
Brewing salts in the mash water. This should bring Denver water profile (as defined by BeerSmith) to
Ca=102,Mg=8,Na=21,SO4=108,Cl=107,HCO3=104
Acid addition to bring calculated pH below 5.3
Boil and add hops as instructed above.
Chill as close to 50 degrees as possible.
Ferment cold for first week, raising temp 1 degree per day.
2nd week, ferment at room temperature.
Keg and chill add geletin.
Carbonate and enjoy.
Brewing Record
Brew Date: | Strike Temp: | |||||
Mash Temps: | ||||||
Pre-boil OG | (1.037 SG) | Pre-boil Vol | (6.60 gal) | |||
Actual Mash Efficiency | Pitch Temp | |||||
Fermentation | ||||||
Day 1: | ||||||
Day ... | ||||||
Day ... |
Brewing Notes
9/10/2022 Time to brew again. I've placed an order at Tom's Brew Shop.
9/18/2022 Brew day went well. OG right on plan.
9/20/2022 Tilt says 1.032 at 54 degrees. Fermentation seems to be going pretty well.
9/22/2022 I forgot to switch to ice last night and Tilt says 1.014 at 68 degrees. Unplugged the temp control pump.
10/1/2022 Kegged today. FG at 1.007 which makes this a 4.3% ABV beer. Sample tasted as expected. Nice pale lager. Chilling in the kegerator. Will add gelatin in a couple of days.
10/2/2022 Added gelatin. Took a little sample as well. Actually already fairly clear. Nice lager flavor. Going to drink the hell out of this beer soon.
10/7/2022 Sort of forgot I had this under pressure until just now. Took a little sample. Lots of foam, but it isn't too over carbonated I think. The little bit I tasted was fantastic. Not very clear yet.
10/14/2022 Had one last night. Still a little too foamy, but not as bad as a couple days ago. Awesomely clear. Tastes so good.
11/6/2022 Brought to Doc's Brewery for Learn to Homebrew Day. IMHO ... The best beer there. Love it. I don't think it will last much longer.
11/16/2022 Killed the keg. Dudocs Red will probably go in this keg and tap.
9/10/2022 Time to brew again. I've placed an order at Tom's Brew Shop.
9/18/2022 Brew day went well. OG right on plan.
9/20/2022 Tilt says 1.032 at 54 degrees. Fermentation seems to be going pretty well.
9/22/2022 I forgot to switch to ice last night and Tilt says 1.014 at 68 degrees. Unplugged the temp control pump.
10/1/2022 Kegged today. FG at 1.007 which makes this a 4.3% ABV beer. Sample tasted as expected. Nice pale lager. Chilling in the kegerator. Will add gelatin in a couple of days.
10/2/2022 Added gelatin. Took a little sample as well. Actually already fairly clear. Nice lager flavor. Going to drink the hell out of this beer soon.
10/7/2022 Sort of forgot I had this under pressure until just now. Took a little sample. Lots of foam, but it isn't too over carbonated I think. The little bit I tasted was fantastic. Not very clear yet.
10/14/2022 Had one last night. Still a little too foamy, but not as bad as a couple days ago. Awesomely clear. Tastes so good.
11/6/2022 Brought to Doc's Brewery for Learn to Homebrew Day. IMHO ... The best beer there. Love it. I don't think it will last much longer.
11/16/2022 Killed the keg. Dudocs Red will probably go in this keg and tap.