Not All Free Beer Is Good Beer

Not All Free Beer Is Good Beer

Author: Craft Beer Republic August 27, 2025 Duration: 32:47

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.

Craft Beer Republic: CraftBeerRepublic.com



There's a certain magic that happens when a great beer meets a good story, and that's the space where you'll find Craft Beer Republic. More than just a tasting notes rundown, this weekly conversation feels like pulling up a stool in a friendly taproom. Each episode, released every Wednesday, dives into the vibrant world of craft brewing with a genuine curiosity for what makes a pour memorable. You'll get a thoughtful breakdown of the latest releases and essential industry news, but the heart of the podcast lies in the conversations. The hosts regularly sit down with the brewers, innovators, and passionate characters who are shaping the landscape, uncovering the personal journeys and creative science behind your favorite labels. It’s for anyone who appreciates the craft, whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or just beginning to explore beyond the familiar. Tune in for a blend of analysis, humor, and community that celebrates not only the beverage in your glass but the culture and connection it fosters. This is a podcast built on the idea that every beer has a narrative waiting to be shared, making each listen a new discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Craft Beer Republic
Podcast Episodes
Worst Beer I Ever Paid For [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:23
Welcome back, craft beer lovers. Steph from the Utah Brewers Guild joins Greg and Flex as Greg uncovers a five-year-old IPA lurking in the craft beer thrift shop, the hunt for the worst beer ever ordered adds a few stron…
Please Don’t Fertilize the Beer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:08
Welcome back, craft beer people. Greg and Flex are joined by Utah Brewers Guild Executive Director Steph, who walks straight into a conversation about urine-fertilized beer, exploding smoothie cans, and why craft beer fo…
Pool Water Pale Ale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:57
Welcome back, craft beer people. Flex gets bullied by a cookie butter beer that smells like cookies and drinks like regret, Ryan sends in a pale ale that tastes like the YMCA, and Pilot Tom accidentally tells Dick Leinen…
Do I Feel a Saison Coming? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:32
Welcome to the Oregon Trail of craft beer. Flex drains two bad beers before a saison finally turns the night around, Greg checks out a brewery soft opening where every beer tastes suspiciously similar, and listener Steph…
Two IPAs Six Hours Ago [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:02
Welcome in, craft beer sleuths. Greg checks out a new MLB park, survives a rain-soaked Dodgers game, and discovers that Lime scooters become a lot more fun after a few beers at Humble Sea on the wharf. Erica brings a haz…
Flex vs Corporate Beer Lady [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:50
Welcome in, craft beer lovers! World Beer Cup winners are out, Stone changes hands again, and 21st Amendment is getting revived on the East Coast. Flex is drinking a guava-heavy sour, Greg and Erica crack into a hazy fro…
Sour IPA Comeback Tour [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:25
Welcome in, craft beer fans! Greg finds a hazy that actually delivers, Flex accidentally grabs a milkshake IPA that’s way better than expected, and “healthy beer” becomes a full argument. There’s some price shock of pint…
Beer Snob Allegations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:18
Welcome back to Craft Beer Republic where Flex finally ends his sober run in style, Greg gets called out for being a “beer snob,” and cheap beers at the Masters become a highlight of the week. There’s a voicemail that tu…
TJ Maxx Beer Dreams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:06
Welcome to your favorite craft beer podcast. Flex is 41 days sober, but Greg and Steph are doing enough drinking to make up for it. Greg rolls the dice on a hype 4-pack while Steph dusts off a favorite she’s been hoardin…
Have Your Way with a Beer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:26
Who’s ready to join Flex’s beer guild? Steph stops by to hang out and share one of her favorite beers of all time. Flex just got back from a baseball game and Greg had a fight with his Uber driver over some teams. We’ve…