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 out enjoying your long holiday weekend.

Lakewood built on a Wim (Garland, TX) – If our friend Wim Bends at Lakewood Brewing gets any more attention, he’ll stop hanging out with us! Yahoo Finance just did a profile of Wim and Lakewood, chronicling his transition from a career in advertising to becoming a full-time craft brewer. This Belgium-born craft beer wunderkind started brewing for fun and now is part of a 10-employee team doing 300 barrels a month.

Starr Hill Falls On Hard Times (Crozet, VA) – Arlington, Virginia-based bar and restaurant chain Hard Times Café will soon be collaborating with Starr Hill Brewing Company on a co-branded beer. The Washington Business Journal is reporting that Starr Hill’s Hard Times Craft Lager will be available at all of Hard Times 17 locations.

Bringing Brewers Out of the Shadows (Longmont, CO) – The home Left Hand Brewing Company – Longmont, Colorado – has decided to expand its rules to accommodate its emerging craft beer industry, as well as its micro-distilleries and wineries. The Longmont Weekly is reporting that previously, “such businesses were allowed only in districts zoned industrial in Longmont. Under the new regulations, microbreweries and the like will be allowed in the city’s commercial districts….”

Shocker – Illinois Governor Does The Right Thing! (Springfield, IL) – In a striking departure from form that stunned many an Illinois resident, Governor Patrick Quinn signed into law a homebrewing bill that will make everyone’s life a little easier.HB 630 became law last Friday and it allows Illinois homebrewers to legally share homebrew with friends and family and to enter homebrew competitions. It also allows homebrew supply shops to conduct brewing demonstrations and offer education courses to customers.

Coronado Ups its Game and its Footprint (Coronado, CA) – The installation of a second 20,000-square-foot brewing facility in San Diego’s Tecolote Canyon area in 2012 has enabled the Coronado Brewing Company to be on pace to double its production to 16,000 barrels in 2013. One result of this increased production is that they are now able to distribute their brand more widely. Over the weekend, the brewery announced that beginning August 19, they will be working with Manhattan Beer Distributors to bring their beers to the state of New York.

Brew U (Flat Rock, NC) – Further reinforcing the concept that North Carolina is fast becoming the East Coast’s newest epicenter for all things craft beer, Western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Community College will be introducing an Applied Science Degree program in Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation. BlueRidgeNow is reporting that the college is planning to launch the new two-year degree program this fall aimed at training workers for a variety of jobs in the field.

Moylan’s brings in New Brewmaster (Novato, CA) – Moylan’s Brewery has announced a new addition to their team – Brewmaster Derek Smith. Smith joins Moylan’s from Black Diamond Brewing Company, where he served as Brewmaster for the past 6 years and was instrumental in leading the brewery to a number of award-winning beers. Derek has a seasoned history of California brewing and has been a longtime friend and fan of Moylan’s Brewery.