Craft Beer Republic

• Flex: Croc Couture by Little House Brewing Co. Flex’s kids picked this hazy IPA for its sparkly Croc can, but the beer’s maltiness left him on the fence.
• Greg: Fort Point Pale Ale by Trillium Brewing Co. A pricey pale ale that delivers citrus and mango vibes, but Greg questions if it’s $28-good.

Flex dives into “Dad Life Goals” by letting his kids pick beers at the liquor store based solely on their shiny cans—what could go wrong? Greg, meanwhile, brings back his favorite holiday tradition, the Dropping of the Yule Log, leaving listeners in tears over its unintentional bathroom noises. The guys get real about hyped breweries charging insane prices, the sexiness of affordable beer, and Greg’s surprising champagne fiasco that ended with Uber Eats saving the day. Meanwhile, Flex daydreams of getting arrested in a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume. Priorities.

Booze News:

• TTB Gets Cool: Brewers no longer need approval to use ingredients like bananas, nuts, and rhubarb—less red tape, more beer.
• Goat Patch Takes Over Pike’s Peak: Colorado Springs’ Goat Patch Brewing is acquiring Pike’s Peak Brewing, turning schools into breweries and keeping things local.
• No Fun on the Train: A UK train company launches a low-alcohol beer campaign to stop people from getting shmammered mid-ride.
• Constellation Sells Svedka: Sazerac adds yet another booze brand to its ever-growing liquor empire.
• Batman Gets Booked: A man in a full Batman costume crashes his car, flees the scene, and fails sobriety tests—justice was served.
• Drunk Driver Ratted Out by Mom: A 20-year-old claims he’s sober, but his own mom tells officers he can’t even walk straight.

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• Greg: Harmonic Energy by Radiant Beer Co. – A hazy pale ale with melon and tangerine vibes, right in Greg’s wheelhouse.
• Flex: Emperor Marlin by Evil Twin Brewing – A boozy quadruple IPA that’s big, bold, and dangerously smooth.

Greg kicks things off by proving his priorities are in order: podcast gear over clean clothes for his road trip. Flex dives into Thanksgiving tales of smoked turkey and late-drinking drama, while Greg shares the tragic saga of a $400 ham disaster and how a family pregnancy almost derailed the mimosa tradition—until a heroic champagne run saved the day. Psycho Bear calls in with beer wisdom, sass, and a potential murder plot, and the guys debate whether marriage is really just a lifelong effort to stop men from doing dumb things.

Booze News

• Blackout Wednesday Fizzles: Draft beer sales continue to slide on the biggest bar night of the year—are we losing our touch?
• Michelob Ultra Reigns Supreme: The top draft beer for the second year running… and it’s only 4.2% ABV.
• Stoli Files for Bankruptcy: Blame it on Russian interference, cyberattacks, or just bad luck—either way, vodka’s taking a hit.
• Man Drives Drunk to Police Station: Pro tip: don’t show up to complain to the cops when your BAC is 0.22.
• Drunk Mule Escape: A Kentucky man tries to flee police at 15 mph—on a mule.

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Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

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• Voicemail: (805) 538-2337

• Greg: Little Machine by Treehouse Brewing – A 5.5% hazy pale ale bringing strong notes of pineapple, candied tropical fruit, and grapefruit, with gorgeous lacing that is borderline pornographic.
• Flex: Spellbinder by Wren House Brewing – A 6.9% hazy IPA bursting with tangerine and stone fruit flavors, earning top marks and a spot in Flex’s dream beer lineup.

Greg kicks things off by recounting a brunch-turned-binge session that ended with some couch therapy and a bathroom confession. Flex shares his love for mashed potatoes—seriously, it’s a borderline love affair—and the two dream up a mashed potato flight that’s sure to revolutionize brunch menus everywhere. Pilot Tom earns Flex's eternal gratitude with a beer hookup, while Greg sings the praises of Non-Murderer John, whose beer generosity keeps on giving. And Greg keeps it classy with more wine drinking. Oh, and Sacramento? You may be our top listening city, but you’re still boring. Sorry, not sorry.

Booze News:

• High ABV beers boom: Big beers are outselling hard seltzers—efficiency in a can!
• Black is Beautiful creator’s next act: Marcus Baskerville is opening a San Antonio spot where fried chicken meets craft beer.
• New Belgium offloads Upper Hand Brewery: The high hand of craft changes owners, but the beer stays local.
• Tequila heist madness: 24,000 bottles of Santo Tequila vanish in an Ocean's 13-style operation.

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Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

Craft Beer Republic: CraftBeerRepublic.com

• Instagram: @CraftBeerRepublic
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• Voicemail: (805) 538-2337

• Flex is sipping on Joe Joe's Chocolate Vanilla Cream Stout by Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, a smooth and sweet stout, perfect for Thanksgiving indulgence.
• Greg dives into beer science with Rolling Thunder 2024 Imperial Stout by Rogue, a boozy stout, paired with its whiskey counterpart, Dead Guy Whiskey.

Thanksgiving week kicks off with Greg and Flex sharing stories about the chaotic traditions of “Drunksgiving,” from packed bars to running into people you’d rather avoid. The debate over food versus beer at breweries sparks some laughs and unexpected takes, with Flex looking at it from a family angle and Greg holding onto his beer-first mindset. They also dig into the surprising buzz around Trader Joe’s beer selection, and all the single can fun! Finally, the duo takes on the sudden obsession with All I Want for Christmas Is You and debates whether it’s always been a classic or just recently found its fame. Are you tired of that song yet?

Booze News:

• Molson Coors Takes a $41M Hit: Divesting craft brands turns into a pricey tax write-off.
• Stone Brewing Goes Local: Say goodbye to Stone beers abroad as exports are axed.
• Massachusetts Hates Fun: The state keeps its outdated happy hour ban alive and well.
• Florida Man Strikes Again: A spaghetti toss turns into a felony—pasta has never been so dangerous.
• Thanksgiving Beer Facts: Fun trivia, including the Mayflower’s emergency beer stop.

Follow us:

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

Craft Beer Republic: CraftBeerRepublic.com

·      Instagram: @CraftBeerRepublic

·      Facebook: CraftBeerRepublicPod

·      Threads: CraftBeerRepublic

·      Voicemail: (805) 538-2337

• Flex: One Cat on the Chessboard by Fat Orange Cat Brewing – A New England-style single-hop IPA showcasing Eldorado hops with notes of pear, peach, and candied watermelon.
• Greg: Celebration Fresh Hop IPA by Sierra Nevada Brewing – A holiday classic, blending piney hops and rich caramel malt for a crisp, bitter blast of holiday cheer.

Greg shares his latest wine party escapades, this one at a swanky restaurant, while Flex marvels at the magic of single-can purchases at Trader Joe’s. Did you know that you can break cans off at Trader Joe's? We also cover quirky Connecticut laws in Ludicrous Libation Law, debate the best pizza styles (sorry Chicago), and recount hilarious marathon stories involving pork chops and our friend Lou. We also reflect on what makes a holiday beer truly special.

Booze News:

• The Leinenkugel family isn’t happy about recent closures at their iconic brewery.
• MobCraft Beer has been sold, raising questions about the challenges of surviving in today’s craft beer market.
• Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium in Asheville faces indefinite closure due to hurricane-related water outages.
• The Brewers Association adds a new style to its guidelines: the Italian-style pilsner.
• We break down the price of a beer at every NBA arena, with Boston taking the top (and most absurd) spot at over $20.

Follow us:

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

Craft Beer Republic: CraftBeerRepublic.com

·      Instagram: @CraftBeerRepublic

·      Facebook: CraftBeerRepublicPod

·      Threads: CraftBeerRepublic

·      Voicemail: (805) 538-2337