So many beers, so little time…With so many craft breweries, releasing so many beers, we thought it might help to provide a weekly update on all the new beers  that are hitting the streets …..So welcome to this week’s edition of Newbies – your guide to great new craft beer releases!

Downright Awesome (Alexandria, VA) – Our friend, Bill Butcher, the founder and “Grand Poobah” at Port City Brewing, just tipped us that they’ll be releasing their limited production summer seasonal in May. Downright Pilsner is an authentic “Czech-style Pilsner, brewed with 100% Pilsner malt and noble Saaz hops.” And if you missed it last year – you, well, blew it. But that’s in the past and soon you’ll be able to make good. Again, “all eyes” as Downright Pilsner will be an extremely limited release. They only produced two 90-barrel batches.

Spring 12-Pack Alert (Eugene, OR) – One of the things that makes craft beer fun is the evolution of seasonal 12-packs, which just keep getting better and better. Ninkasi Brewing just announced the April release of their Mixed Spring 12-pack and it’s a wonderful sampler of all of the good things that they’ve been doing out in Eugene. Each box set will include Ninkasi steadfast favorites alongside seasonal brews. All will include three, 12 oz bottles of Total Domination IPA, Oatis Oatmeal Stout, Spring Reign American Pale Ale, and Sterling Pils.

300 Pounds of Michigan Cherries! (Dover, DE) – That’s how many went into brewing Dominion’s newest spring seasonal, “Cherry Blossom Lager.” Spring is just around the corner and Washington, DC, will soon be readying itself for its famous Cherry Blossom Festival – and Dominion’s Cherry Blossom Lager will be a welcome addition to the celebration. “Cherry Blossom Lager” will soon be available in six-packs and on draft, hitting shelves and taps in the Mid-Atlantic region in March 2013.

Hop Kitchen (Ft. Collins, CO) – New Belgium Brewing recently introduced their new “Hop Kitchen” four beer series, which will be released in 22 oz bottles and on draft in select markets in 2013.The first release under the “Hop Kitchen” banner is Hoppy Bock Lager and it’s out there now. This beer is a medium-bodied German-style lager brewed with rye and Hallertauer, Perle and Fuggle hops. “Hoppy Bock” is 6.9% ABV.

Boston 26.2 Returns for the Marathon (Boston, MA) – The Boston Beer Company has announced the re-release of Samuel Adams Boston 26.2 Brew that was created to celebrate the Boston Marathon. “26.2” has a lighter body and slightly lower alcohol level than many of the beers in the Samuel Adams family, making it appealing to both runners and spectators. “Samuel Adams Boston 26.2 Brew” will be available on draft at race-related events, as well as at pubs and restaurants along the Marathon route and around Boston.

May We See Your Papers? (Milwaukee, WI) – Lakefront Brewery and Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. have teamed up to concoct a limited-edition beer that will be available during the Wisconsin Restaurant Expo (March 11-13) in downtown Milwaukee. This year’s collaboration is Checkpoint Charlie, a Berliner Weisse beer that will also be on tap throughout the Milwaukee area during Craft Beer Week in May.