Beer with Fred

Before the Super Bowls, the parades, and the end zone spikes—there was a family business.

In this episode of Having a Beer with Fred, Fred Forsley sits down with Gordie Gronkowski Jr., the oldest of the Gronk brothers, to talk about the side of the Gronkowski family most people never hear about: business.

The future of partying might not be alcohol at all.

In this episode of Having a Beer with Fred, Fred Forsley sits down with industry veteran Alan Pette to talk about the rapid rise of a new drink category: hemp-derived THC beverages. Specifically, they dig into Alt—a low-dose, fast-acting, solvent-free THC beverage that’s positioned as a flavorful, social alternative to alcohol.

n this episode of Having a Beer with Fred, Shipyard founder Fred Forsley and master brewer Alan Pugsley finally sit down to tell the story they’ve never told—how they built one of the most iconic craft breweries in America on nothing but a handshake.

• Alan arrives in the U.S. in 1986 with a British brewing pedigree and no idea what’s next.

• Fred’s running bars and betting it all on a dream no one thinks will work.

• Together, they launch a brewing empire—with no investors, no contracts, and no room for error.

• Along the way: disastrous early batches, a Siberian brewery that vanishes into the snow, and a near-death partnership with Miller.

• Plus: why the “godfather of craft” still thinks most hazy IPAs are nonsense.

It’s not just a beer story. It’s a story about trust, timing, and building something real—before marketing took over the taproom.

When a garlic farmer from Maine drew 3,000 global viewers to a virtual fair, Rory Strunk knew he had something bigger on his hands. In this episode of Having a Beer with Fred, we dive into the story behind Stream State — a grassroots streaming platform born from necessity during the pandemic. From launching WSKI at Sugarloaf to reinventing media distribution, Rory shares his journey through startup pivots, bootstrapped projects, and his mission to make Maine’s stories visible to the world. If you care about entrepreneurship, resilience, or creating from the edges, this one’s for you.

Most cancers are caught too late — after symptoms appear or by pure accident. In this episode of Having a Beer with Fred, Michael Andonadis shares how that frightening statistic drove him and his physician mother to launch TrueScan, a company using full-body MRI and cutting-edge tech to detect cancer and heart disease before symptoms start. From a Cornell entrepreneurship background to building one of the country’s first wellness-focused early detection platforms, Michael’s story is a powerful blend of purpose, persistence, and innovation. If you care about health, startups, or solving problems that matter, don’t miss this one.

A $30,000 design mistake nearly derailed Sea Dog Scarborough’s grand renovation. In this episode of “Having a Beer With Fred,” we get real about what went wrong, what we learned, and how function always trumps flashy ideas. With insight from longtime GM Lynn Marquee, media expert Michael Knight, and creative director Robert, this is a no-fluff conversation about entrepreneurship, reinvention, and the battle between aesthetics and practicality in business. If you’ve ever faced a renovation nightmare or a startup setback, this one’s for you.

From slinging drinks in Boston’s Fry Tuck’s as a teenager to owning some of the city’s most iconic pubs, Roger Zeghibe’s journey is pure entrepreneurial grit. In this episode of “Having a Beer With Fred,” Roger shares how a mentor changed his life, how he built Beantown Pub into a local legend, and why family, risk, and reinvention are the cornerstones of his empire. It’s a story of hustle, heart, and how one bartender became a Boston bar king.

After dying for 10 seconds in the back of an ambulance, Ethan Crossen came back with a mission — build a legacy, not just a business. In this raw and inspiring conversation from “Having a Beer With Fred,” Ethan shares how a near-death experience rewired his drive, why purpose trumps planning, and how young entrepreneurs can create real impact through relationships, energy, and execution. From Maine roots to Florida momentum, this episode is a masterclass in building fast, living fully, and leading with heart.

What happens when a high-powered lawyer decides to make the legal world… chill?

In this episode of Having a Beer with Fred, we meet Grant Craft, a Florida attorney who walked away from the courtroom grind to build a firm with soul.

From bootstrapping his business to rebranding law itself, Grant shares how he turned fear into freedom—and why he believes being your own boss is the ultimate form of control. But here’s the twist: it all started with a threat from his wife. Want to know what she said?

Fred and James recount their decades-long partnership and the wild ride of growing beer brands across continents—from door-to-door fruit hustling in Glasgow to negotiating with European royalty.

Visit my website to learn more: https://shipyard.com/about-shipyard/And follow me on socials:

https://www.youtube.com/@FredForsley-shipyardhttps://www.facebook.com/FredForsleyShipyard/https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredforsley/https://www.instagram.com/fredmforsley/https://www.facebook.com/ShipyardNYC/https://www.instagram.com/shipyardbeeruk/channel/I'm Fred Forsley, founder and CEO of Shipyard Brewing Company and an entrepreneur passionate about more than just craft beer. Here, I share a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and triumphs of running various businesses, from brewing to other entrepreneurial ventures. I explore my passions, discuss the vital role of community and collaboration, and show how innovation drives us forward.Join me as I embark on this journey of creativity, entrepreneurship, and community. Whether you're a craft beer enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone interested in the dynamics of different business sectors, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s discover the limitless possibilities together!