This Hop Deserves Better

This Hop Deserves Better

Author: Craft Beer Republic August 20, 2025 Duration: 43:37

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

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: 403

Craft Beer Republic
Podcast Episodes
Batch275: Lawless Brewing Co. Ben Wallace & Josh McCombs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:45
Cheers to fresh beers and new breweries! Greg had the opportunity to visit Lawless Brewing in North Hollywood, CA, and sit down with owner Ben Wallace and head brewer Josh McCombs. Not only did they make their way throug…
Batch274: We're Kind Of A Big Deal In Finland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:48
Get your pizzas, pretzels, and beers; it's time for research! Erica joins Flex and Greg to talk about the return of beer festivals, mac and cheese pizza, the best place to live for drunk people, and why the great people…
Batch273: Drinking Beer with a Straw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:26
Grab your beer-straws and favorite costumes; it's time to get hydrated! Coley stops back in to hang with Flex and Greg as they talk about drinking your way through an anniversary trip, favorite costumes and corresponding…
Batch272: Shameful Beers & Explosive Tongue Jobbers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:24
Get your tongue-jobbers and lederhosen ready; we’re doing some research! Coley drops in to hang with Flex and Greg as they talk about some upcoming beer festivals embarrassing beer purchases, new breweries, and weird dri…
Batch271: Topa Topa Brewing Co. founder Jack Dyer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:48
Cheers to drinking beers with new friends! Greg had the opportunity to stop into Topa Topa Brewing Co. in Ventura, CA, to sit down with founder & CEO Jack Dyer. In addition to sharing some fantastic beers, they talk abou…
Batch270: Free Beer Scheme & Pumpkin-Spiced Awfulness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:00
To all you pumpkin spice lovers out there, welcome. This is going to be messy. Beergirl Melissa is joining Flex and Greg for a whole lot of fun. They are talking about the drunkest states in America, drinking some annive…
Batch269: West Coast Hops & The Worst Beer Ever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:37
Grab your pretzels and cold ones; it’s research time! Erica is teaming up with Flex and Greg to talk about the worst beer around, teachers getting drunk on the job, drinking beer for a good cause, and some weird drinking…
Batch268: Labor Day Pains and Hangover Donuts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:39
Still recovering from the Labor Day weekend? We’ve got you covered. Flex and Greg are getting ready for football, talking about hangover cures, trying to figure out what’s wrong with Iowa, and getting real basic with pum…
Batch267: Pancakes and Beer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:59
Time to grab those flapjacks and chill your beers! Coley is hanging with Flex and Greg while reviewing some beer and breakfast foods, drinking with elephants, and getting duct-taped on airplanes. Greg and Coley start off…
Batch266: Has Beer Jumped the Shark? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:51
Who’s ready to conduct some science? Coley joins Flex and Greg as they figure out what she’ll be drinking for a punishment beer, conduct science on two pickle beers, dig into some Beer Zombies, and try to find out why Mt…