We blame the industry for this… It used to be that when we wrapped up our Weekend Picks on Friday, we could coast through the weekend. There was little need to check in for updates -things were pretty much done. But clearly all that’s changed.

So here’s some of what’s happened in the world of craft beer while you were off enjoying yourselves.

New Belgium Gets A New President (Fort Collins, CO) – Long-time CFO/COO, Christine Perich, is now the President of New Belgium Brewing and we’re psyched for her.Perich will now have oversight over all of the day-to-day operations and the construction and integration of the company’s second production facility in Asheville, North Carolina, which is slated for completion in late 2015. She will report directly to CEO and Co-Founder Kim Jordan and New Belgium’s Board of Directors. Jordan remains as CEO of New Belgium, focusing on branding, sales, industry affairs and the company’s strategy.

Why the Gods Approve of Snallygaster (Washington, DC) – One of the East Coast’s best craft beer festivals endured some drenching rain mid-day Saturday – but things were far from lost. Besides, it would take a tidal wave to scare away the Snallygaster hardcore and the beer selection alone was to die for. But clearly the Gods are fans of serious beer, food and music because the threatening rain clouds soon gave way to a spectacular early fall afternoon in the Nation’s capital and the “gargantuan beer jamboree” ended up having its best weather ever.”

Craft Beer Canning Crosses the Pond (United Kingdom) – The canning revolution that has changed the American craft beer scene so profoundly, is crossing “the pond” and has begun changing the craft beer biz in Great Britain and Ireland as well. The Guardian is reporting that “three breweries in London have recently installed “micro-canning machines”, while breweries in Ireland, Wales and Yorkshire have them on order.”

New Brewery Permits Sky Rocket (Alexandria, VA) – Our friends a t the NBWA alerted us to the astounding fact that there were 4,526 brewery permits issued in the first six months of 2014. The organization added that the figure “is significantly higher than the 3,040 reported by the Brewers Association, with the clear difference being the 1,486 breweries that may just be starting to brew, have not reported any production or may actually be brewing but flying below everyone’s radar. ”

Fottoberfest (Fort Collins, CO) – The 2nd annual Fortoberfest will be returning to Old Town Square downtown Fort Collins next weekend (Sept 19^th-20^th) – It’s a fun event in a great craft beer town. A 2011 economic study found that the Fort Collins beer industry generated over $300 million in economic output and $140 million in local payroll, and employed nearly 2500 people. Industry analysts report that over 70% of the beer made in Colorado today is produced in Fort Collins.