Welcome in, beer lovers! This episode is anything but dry—because Dry January isn't welcome here! Greg, Flex, and Erica dive headfirst into hilarious conversations about wild animal encounters, disastrous brewery closures, awkward first dates, and the struggles of finding the perfect gift. Plus, they break down the latest Booze News and share their honest (and sometimes questionable) beer reviews. It’s a sloppy, salty, and crunchy good time you won’t want to miss!

Beers We’re Drinking:

• Erica is repping Alaska with Rock, Paper, Citrus by Broken Tooth Brewing. A crisp pale ale with a splash of tangerine that’s perfect for fighting bears or just chilling on a cruise.
• Greg dusts off Number Three by Other Half Brewing x Burial Beer. This West Coast IPA is rocking some aged piney dankness—because Greg forgot it existed.

Greg kicks things off by firmly rejecting Dry January, while Erica proudly joins the anti-dry movement with her salty snacks. Erica shares stories about mountain lions casually roaming her neighborhood and teases an upcoming Alaskan cruise (with plans to challenge local drinking laws). Greg recounts the time he drunkenly chased a coyote in flip-flops, proving that liquid courage knows no bounds. Flex opens up about the struggle of holding in gas during the early days of dating—because nothing says romance like two-minute farts in the car. The crew also dives into the recent trend of brewery closures and debates the art of giving (and receiving) the perfect gift. Plus, Greg might have started a family revolution by boycotting holiday gift exchanges.

Booze News:

• Cancer Warnings on Booze? The U.S. Surgeon General wants to slap cancer warnings on alcohol. Will that stop anyone? Yeah, right.
• Stone vs. Molson Coors: Molson Coors loses its appeal and now owes Stone Brewing $56 million. Plus interest. Ouch.
• Flex’s Mall Brewery is Blowing Up: Explorium Brewpub is taking over Good City Brewing, expanding beyond the mall and into Flex’s heart.
• Harpoon + Smuttynose Merger: Two New England breweries join forces to create Barrel One Collective. Worst. Merger. Name. Ever.
• Drunk Detective Frees Inmates: A hammered cop in Zambia accidentally frees 13 prisoners. Cheers to new beginnings?

Erica: NeckNosh.com

Instagram: @Neck_Nosh_LLC

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

Craft Beer Republic: CraftBeerRepublic.com

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

Welcome to the first episode of 2025! Greg, Flex, and Erica are here to fight the good fight against Dry January, bringing you a hotline to save beers—and lives. Erica shares wild stories from her epic Egypt and Abu Dhabi adventure, Flex faces off against some overzealous fireworks and an IPA hangover, and Greg dodges DIY disasters with his neighbors. Plus, pozole presents, beer-snob debates, and a voicemail so wild it could only come from Chew Your Beer. Let’s start the new year with laughter and liquid courage!

Beers We’re Drinking

• Greg: Nelsie by Monkish Brewing – Greg’s hazy pale ale is packed with Nelson Sauvin hops, tropical aromas, and a pillowy smooth finish.
• Flex: Terra Nelson by Drowned Lands Brewing – A triple hazy IPA with bright tropical notes and Sauvignon Blanc vibes. Flex calls it "Nelson perfection" despite the price tag.
• Erica: Schism by Lupulin Brewing – A bold black IPA with roasty bitterness, smoky undertones, and a lingering dankness.

Dry January is the enemy, and the Craft Beer Republic hotline is here to help. Flex relives his chaotic holiday, from a four-beer hangover to a near-underwear brawl with New Year’s fireworks enthusiasts. Erica takes us on a journey from the pyramids of Egypt to Eminem concerts in Abu Dhabi—complete with desperate Heineken beer-runs. Meanwhile, Greg shares tales of pozole-filled holidays, neighbors on a DIY rampage, and his ongoing fight to keep family visits under control and over inebriated. It’s beer, laughs, and chaos to start the new year right.

Booze News

• The most downloaded episode of 2024.
• Jimmy Carter: The president who saved craft beer with a homebrewing Hail Mary.
• PBR switches teams: Anheuser-Busch takes over brewing duties for the trashy lager.
• Hulk Hogan and WWE: The Real American Beer body slams into Monday Night Raw.
• Forbes gets weird: The “must-try” IPAs list that’s more recycled than a mixed six-pack.

Erica: NeckNosh.com

Instagram: @Neck_Nosh_LLC

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

Craft Beer Republic: CraftBeerRepublic.com

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

Welcome to the New Year chaos! Greg, Flex, and Mel are here to kick off 2025 with plenty of laughs, questionable resolutions, and beers that make us glad our tongues can’t talk back. Flex reminds everyone why Wisconsin is the Fresh Coast (it’s real, he swears), Mel educates us on the dos and don’ts of edibles at weddings, and Greg channels his inner David Attenborough during a stoned encounter with whales. Plus, they’re petitioning to make 2025 the Year of the Gose, debating when craft beer really peaked, and roasting chestnuts—well, metaphorically. Cheers to another year of beers, nonsense, and mildly useful advice!

Beers We’re Drinking:

• Mel: Chestnut Praline Imperial Ale by Southern Tier Brewing Co. – A buttery, praline-filled dessert beer that screams holidays and feels like a warm hug on a cold day.
• Greg: Short Lived Hazy IPA by MadeWest x Highland Park Brewing – Tropical juicy fruit vibes with a silky smooth mouthfeel that Greg calls the perfect California sipper.
• Flex: Fresh Coast Pale Ale by Three Sheeps Brewing – A light, crushable pale ale with bright citrus notes, perfect for any season.

The gang dives into the nostalgia of the “good old days” of 2019, arguing over the true peak of craft beer. Greg and Flex trade stories of hilariously high experiences with THC drinks, including a memorable balcony whale encounter that may or may not have been real. Mel reminisces about her edible misadventures at a wedding, where she learned the hard way to read the dosage warnings.

In a heartfelt New Year’s brainstorm, they pledge to rekindle the camaraderie of the craft beer community, resolve to post on social media more often (no promises), and petition to make 2025 the year of the Gose. And in true CBR fashion, they somehow turn beer reviews into a conversation about roasted chestnuts, door decor, and why juicy IPAs should just be labeled correctly already.

Booze News:

• Craft breweries are closing faster than they’re opening for the first time—so much for new year optimism.
• A woman runs the New York City Marathon drunk. Goals?
• Castle Island Brewing rescues Cambridge Brewing’s IP—because good beer deserves a second chance.
• Diageo considers selling off P Diddy’s vodka. Uh, who’s still drinking that?

Follow us:

Mel: Instagram: @beergirl_mel

Flex: Instagram: @flex_me_a_beer

Craft Beer Republic: CraftBeerRepublic.com

· Instagram: @CraftBeerRepublic

· Facebook: CraftBeerRepublicPod

· Threads: CraftBeerRepublic

· Voicemail: (805) 538-2337