Flex ditched us for baseball, so Greg called in the big guns—his wife Shannon’s back behind the mic! While he drinks against doctor's orders, they dive into Denver beer adventures, reflect on the magic of Odell, and realize maybe... just maybe... “Krush” is a pretty great name for a hop. There’s also some pineapple sculpin slander, an airport golf cart chase, and a beer that tastes suspiciously like fake orange juice. It’s basically date night with more booze and fewer vegetables.

Beers We’re Drinking:

Greg & Shannon – Grateful Dead by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, with its fake fruit juice vibes, but drinkable nature. 

With Flex off duty, Shannon steps in to co-host—and instantly catches Greg breaking post-surgery rules with a beer in hand. They dive into their brewery-filled Colorado trip, giving props to Fossil, Full Frame, and a surprise rekindling with Odell. Greg rants about hop names (with love), and Shannon talks through what actually makes a neighborhood brewery feel like home. There’s also the unforgettable moment she refuses a free pineapple Sculpin to the face of a beer rep—because not all free beer is good beer. Also, someone may have once drank beer and gone trampoline hopping. Mistakes were made.

Booze News

• Ballast Point’s Back… Again? New investors, same identity crisis.
• BrewDog Drama Continues Co-founder Martin Dickie exits stage left.
• Spindrift Spiked Dies Quietly Guess nobody wanted that after all.
• Airport Grand Theft Golf Cart Drunk traveler goes full GTA at Buffalo Niagara.
• Beer Mile King Rules Again Corey Bellemore runs fast and drinks faster.

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Belly up, beer friends! This week we’re raising a glass (a black one, no less) to beer research, 90s nostalgia, and the fine art of being pleasantly hydrated. Greg’s got beef with hazy IPA ratings, Flex lets the Tongue-jobber run wild, and Erica schools us on peak beach beer game. Also, Oktoberfest vibes are already rolling in, and someone might’ve confessed to loving banana Runts. Might’ve. There’s a whole lot of laughing, a little education, and a surprising amount of cargo short appreciation. Grab a beer, open your mind, and maybe skip the Irish car bomb.

Beer’s We’re Drinking:

• Greg is drinking Infinite Universe by Everywhere Brewing x Tripping Animals — soft mouthfeel, white grape vibes, chuggably smooth.
• Flex cracks open Rabbit by Trillium — classic West Coast, citrusy with a light malt bite, but no fireworks.
• Erica sips Peaked in the 90s by Movement Brewing x Altamont — peachy haze, crushable nostalgia in a can.

Denver takes the crown as our top listening city (what’s up, Mile High homies!), and the crew dives headfirst into Oktoberfest feels—minus any actual travel to Munich. Erica channels the ‘90s with beer and smiley faces, Flex has childhood flashbacks involving Trillium cans, and Greg invents a whole new beer-tasting experience involving mystery glasses and fancy wine logic.

We also learn important life lessons: banana Runts are divisive, black glass tastings make beer nerds feel classy, and sometimes the best way to enjoy a slim can is just to imagine you’re being healthy. Also, yes—you can fit two in your cargo shorts. Probably three if you try.

Booze News:

• Diageo CEO Steps Down Amid Ongoing Guinness Sale Rumors
• Wiseacre Acquires Bearded Iris — Home Style now with Memphis flair
• Tilray Bleeds Billions in “Accounting” — $1.4B “oops” blamed on dreams of cannabis legalization
• The 16 Drunkest Countries in the World. 

Erica: NeckNosh.com

Instagram: @Neck_Nosh_LLC

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

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Welcome in, thirsty friends! We’ve got Flex, Greg, and the one and only Erica back in the mix—and things get juicy real quick. From wild seltzer collabs and trivia smackdowns to birthday shenanigans and beer with literal Swedish Fish in it, this episode covers all the essentials: beer, banter, and questionable karaoke decisions. Also, turns out Greg and Flex are both pretty passionate about Taylor Swift, and Erica may or may not have danced sober at a silent disco. Don’t judge—just pour yourself something delicious and jump into the good times.

 Beers We’re Drinking:

• Greg cracks open Lutefisk from Old Irving Brewing (with Chaos Brew Club) – A kettle-soured Swedish Fish beer.
• Erica sips on West Coast IPA by pFriem Family Brewers – Bright, crisp, and slightly dank.
• Flex dives into Tropics in the Toes from Young Blood Beer Co. – a mango and raspberry sour IPA.

Erica’s back and gearing up for her Beer Babes collab event with a majestic purple peach seltzer (brewed by badass women only, of course). Greg celebrated his birthday by beating the trivia pants off a pizza place team and stealing their gift card like a champ. The gang reflects on past GABF shenanigans, including silent disco disasters, missed lucha libre sightings, and questionable food decisions. Also, we learned Flex has Taylor Swift on shower rotation, Greg hates Oasis, and Erica might have a nose as sensitive as a drug dog. It’s all very on-brand.

Booze News:

• Boston Beer Breakups – Truly LA and Angel City Brewing are both getting the axe
• Three Weavers Goes Chapter 11 – LA brewery hits tough times but fights on
• Boston Beer CEO Steps Down – Jim Koch is back in charge of the mothership
• High Noon Recall – Some cans labeled as energy drinks were actually vodka sodas. Surprise buzz!
• Oasis Reunion = Pint Party – Wembley sells over 250k beers per night, making Coldplay and Swift look like lightweights

Erica: NeckNosh.com

Instagram: @Neck_Nosh_LLC

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

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Greg took the Craft Beer Republic mics on the road to Denver for a sit-down with Jan Chodkowski, head brewer and co-owner of Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company (aka OMF). What started as a casual morning tasting turned into a full-on deep dive into Jan’s beer journey, from knocking back High Life in high school to running one of the most respected breweries in Colorado.

Over a lineup of OMF’s finest pours, including their fresh-from-the-tank Keller Pils, sunshine-in-a-glass Sunny Kölsch, dangerously drinkable Stingray Jesus West Coast IPA, pillowy Neon Nail Hazy IPA, and Little Character, a silky Southern English Brown Ale collab with Fort George, Greg and Jan swapped stories about how OMF grew from a scrappy one-barrel setup into a polished, award-winning, neighborhood staple.

Jan shares why OMF champions Colorado-grown malt and hops, the art of brewing beers they actually want to drink, and why chasing trends isn’t their style. We talk collaborations, dream brews, Denver’s evolving beer scene, and the magic of keeping things local. There’s plenty of brewer nerd talk (floor malting, hop selection, and water chemistry), but always with a pint in hand and a laugh in between.

Beyond the brewhouse, Jan talks about OMF’s work in the community, from partnering with nonprofits to creating Pride merch that benefits local LGBTQ+ organizations. And because no Craft Beer Republic chat is complete without a little fun, Greg puts Jan through a rapid-fire round covering guilty pleasure beers, dream beer trips, and his go-to hangover cure. It’s the kind of conversation that feels less like an interview and more like hanging out at the bar with a friend who just happens to make incredible beer.

Our Mutual Friend Brewing: OMFBeer.com

• Instagram: @OMFBrewing
• Facebook: OurMutualFriendBrewing
• 2810 Larimer Street, Denver, CO

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Buckle up, tap heads, we're going on a beer trip! Flex returns from a whirlwind trip to Nashville that involved banjos, birthday beer, and a suspiciously bougie breakfast buffet. Meanwhile, Greg brings tales from Colorado where he drank his way through the Rockies, crushed trivia, and found himself in the middle of a country concert and a lightning storm at Red Rocks. Plus, one of them may have developed a deep spiritual bond with a beer bottle that looks like it belongs in a drawer marked "private." Let’s just say it’s one hell of a ride this week.

Beers We’re Drinking:

• Flex is sipping on How to Train Your Marshmallow from Evil Twin brewing.
• Greg drinks Portraits (Carignan) by Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, thanks to a listener. 

Flex's one-day trip to Nashville could only be described as "country chaos meets luxury carbs." From a jaw-dropping resort buffet to a surprise country concert at the Grand Ole Opry, he covered more ground in 24 hours than most of us do in a week—and he still found time for overpriced Paulaner and cheap mountain dew. Meanwhile, Greg’s Colorado birthday bash included first class flights, boozy bar crawls, and trivia domination (or at least participation). The highlight? Seeing Andrew McMahon at Red Rocks under a lightning-lit sky while sippin' road sodas. There was also a ton of beer research, and an appearance by NoHo Hank. 

Booze News:

• New Beach Beer Bottle Raises Eyebrows and Questions.
• Goose Island Drops Classic-Style 2025 Bourbon County Lineup.
• Spanish Marie Brewing Issues Public Call for Support.
• UK Teacher Accused of Boozing, Cursing, and Macarena Mayhem.

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

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Crack open a cold one and settle in—you're hanging with the Craft Beer Republic!

Greg’s rocking a forehead bruise after losing a fight with a boat trailer, Flex is giving Kentucky beer some serious love, and a guy at the airport got so obliterated he took an unexpected exit—escorted, of course. Greg also discovered the mystery of the half-pint pour while wandering the Bay Area, and the guys debate who’d make the best beer buddy among the founding fathers (spoiler: Ben Franklin’s a party). Lots of stories, lots of laughs, and even more reasons to double-check your pint size.

Beer We’re Drinking:

• Greg is drinking Hops Are Flowers by North Park Beer Co. – A triple-dry-hopped tropical juice bomb that’s smooth, fragrant, and dangerously drinkable. Daddy’s rocked.
• Flex brings Witness the Citrus by Country Boy Brewing – A Kentucky haze full of citrus and tropical mango, with low carb and easy-drinking vibes. Tongue-jobber approved.

Greg’s recent travel saga included wine-sipping in Paso Robles for his birthday (tap-ass style) and nearly knocking himself out trying to load a boat. His forehead may say otherwise, but he swears it wasn’t a concussion. He also took a long, definitely unnecessary, walk across the Bay Area to visit Wondrous Brewing—only to get hit with a mysterious half-pint surprise.

Meanwhile, Flex dropped some serious praise on Kentucky’s underdog beer scene and shared a touching plan to surprise his daughter with a Nashville birthday trip. We also learned a valuable lesson: if you're drunk enough to break glass at the airport wine bar, security will gladly escort you off your flight… and probably out of your vacation.

And just in case you’ve been losing sleep wondering which founding father would be best to crush a beer with—Ben Franklin took top honors, George Washington got side-eyed, and Flex would still rather have a pint with Abe Lincoln (bear-wrestling beard and all).

Booze News

• UK floats idea of adding more health warnings to booze
• Missouri signs the American Beer Act
• Ryanair passengers get soaked in booze mid-flight—cheers?

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

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Welcome in, country road travelers! This week on Craft Beer Republic, Flex, the Louisville Chugger, is back from his road trip all over the east-ish part of the south. He’s got tales of missed opportunities, life-changing beers, and kids riding ponies. Greg is currently on a road trip and is drinking local to pass the time. Hulk Hogan is being sued over his beer, breweries are closing up shop, and a driver in California is really drinking on the go!

Beers We’re Drinking:

• Greg visits the local bottle shop and picks up Recursion IPA from Bottle Logic Brewing in Anaheim.
• Flex picks up what he thinks is the best beer ever; Bootsy Brewski from Fretboard Brewing.

Flex tells us all about his road trip. He survived the family road trip through Ohio and Kentucky without having to hurt anyone, good for him! He kicked things off in Cincinnati with a meal so good he couldn’t stand up afterwards. And the beer he had was life changing… but could he ever find it again? Then he ended up at Jungle Jim’s grocery store with world class bathrooms and beers you can drink while you shop. He then jumped over to Kentucky for some horse riding, no bourbon tasting, and a mortgage payment worth of souvenirs at Buc-ee’s. 

In the News Flight: Silver City Brewing is sold, Urban Chestnut acquires O’Fallon Beer brands, and Denver’s TRVE Brewing is closing down.

In Booze News:

• Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer is being sued again.
• A California driver got pulled over with a few too many roadies in the car.

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

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Welcome in! Greg’s rocking an ice pack and Flex is diving into seltzer science—but don’t worry, this is still very much a beer podcast. The guys compare notes on wild beer adventures, including a boys' day out that turned into a Casa Agria treasure hunt and a seltzer experiment involving soft serve ice cream. Plus, Erica calls in drunk from Alaska to challenge the state’s infamous beer laws, and the guys debate whether Yuengling is actually just “meh” or just hard to get. Also, Greg’s trying to age gracefully while still launching off wakes, and Flex’s kids are choosing beers with names that make ten-year-olds giggle.

Beers We’re Drinking:

• Greg is drinking Casa Agria’s Space Craze Hazy IPA – Out-of-this-world juiciness, hazy perfection, and stone fruit for days.
• Flex is drinking More Brewing’s Little Space Booties – DDH session pale ale, herbaceous and green, but too hoppy for its britches.

Greg gets out of a dance recital and right into a brewery crawl—with backup from Marty the Brew Pup and intern Brian. Meanwhile, Flex reveals that his kids picked his beer based solely on the word “booties,” and it honestly checks out. Erica the outlaw comes in , a nostalgic breakfast burrito craving sparked by Qdoba talk, and Greg makes it clear he’ll take back pain if it means more wakeboarding. Plus, we get the tragic tale of a head brewer who can’t drink his own beer anymore, and Flex tells us why soft serve seltzers may be the weirdest delicious thing you didn’t know you needed.

Booze News:

• Anchor Brewing Still Ghosting Everyone – New owners, zero updates, just a lonely skeleton crew.
• Yuengling Invades Michigan – The most okay beer in America takes one more step west.
• Texas Says “High” to Hemp – Governor Abbott vetoes hemp ban at the buzzer.
• Florida Man Flips Car, Escapes Ambulance, Drives Home – Can you guess his BAC?
• Another Florida Man Hits a Crane, 7AM – Five Star Pizza: now delivering chaos.

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

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We’re keeping it juicy and unfiltered this week—just like Greg’s IPA. Flex’s kids play a dangerous game of beer roulette, Greg recounts his wakeboarding-induced soreness (and pride), and both share 4th of July plans that include everything from action movie marathons to borderline-illegal fireworks. Plus, we finally find out how many hot dogs America can throw down in one day and dive into the chaotic brilliance that is Buc-ee’s. Also, someone might’ve created the worst beer game ever—thanks, Malort.

Beer’s We’re Drinking:

• Flex is drinking Fogsicle from Abomination Brewing, a sour DIPA with peach, vanilla, and marshmallow vibes.
• Greg cracks open Within Us from Anchorage Brewing. A juicy double hazy with citrus and a bitter kick.

Flex’s kids strike again, picking out a beer that sounds like dessert and looks like a metal album cover—and somehow it’s amazing. Meanwhile, Greg survives some very dad-level wakeboarding and shares tales of forgotten beers and even more forgettable brewery service. Flex is off to Cincinnati and Louisville, with stops at bourbon distilleries and—wait for it—a pilgrimage to Buc-ee’s. The duo reminisces about the joys of drinking on high school grounds (legally-ish), and Greg spills the wine about his fancy Fourth of July plans that include movies and laundry. Also, happy early birthday to Flex—don’t send him anything. Seriously.

Booze News

• Malort x Voodoo Ranger create a beer roulette that no one asked for.
• BrewDog bails on Cincinnati—guess Flex will have to drink better beer.
• Rogue joins the weed seltzer race with new THC/CBD drinks.
• Busch Light adds Lime to the list of questionable beer flavors.
• Which states drink the most per person? (Sorry, Wisconsin).
• Fourth of July stats: $8.9B in food, 150M hot dogs, and too many fireworks.

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

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Welcome to the Show That’s More Dank Than Your Favorite Hop!

This week on Craft Beer Republic, Greg and Flex are feeling extra old, extra nostalgic, and just the right amount of buzzed. We're talking Muppets, dry grad parties (gross), and why opening a tab isn’t just polite—it’s efficient, damn it! Plus, Greg dabbles with a THC experiment, and Flex gets his mind changed mid-sip by a honey-drenched DIPA. Also, Psycho Bear emerges from hibernation with a voicemail challenge that includes horses, darts, and hopefully nothing that ends with Greg on a true crime podcast. It’s everything you love about Craft Beer Republic—good beers, big laughs, and even bigger opinions.

Beers We’re Drinking:

• Greg is drinking Galaxy Traveling Scientist by Hop Butcher for the World — Dank nose, citrus tongue jobber, hazy surprise.
• Flex is sipping Mosaic Cutting Tiles by Trillium — Dry finish, honeyed shock, peachy evolution.

Episode Highlights

Flex confesses his undying love for the Swedish Chef while Greg tries to remember what the hell an Erlenmeyer flask is. They bond over dry graduation parties (ew), share tales of teenage sneaking-around, and try to figure out why today’s kids aren’t drinking or hooking up. Greg recalls his teenage genius in evading a parental walk-in, and Flex nearly sheds a tear watching neighborhood kids play his old-school drinking game. And Greg does some dabbling with a THC cocktail. Also: seltzer-mosas are officially a thing (sorry, not sorry).

Booze News

• Tilray strikes again! Red Hook’s brew lab goes dark in Seattle.
• Ska Brewing Sold—But at Least It’s Not to the Suits This Time.
• UA passenger rage-quits flight after not getting booze before takeoff.

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

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