'Tis the season for year-end lists and seriously, who doesn't enjoy reminiscing about those great things that've populated our lives over the past 365 days? I tend to specifically revel in the year-end music lists, as I generally create one each year as well, but this will be my first attempt to conjure from the mists that lurk in the back of my noggin those beers that made Oregon proud, in turn, making the year even tastier.

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 enjoying yourselves.

Hey it's Friday and if you're ready for some serious fun - we are on it! From the nation's coolest beer festivals to movies, music, and cutting-edge TV - we've got your back big-time. Plus we've got a special WeekendBeer Pick that you'll want to chase down. So welcome to this week's edition of our awesome Weekend Picks.

Jeanna Malines here reporting from the frozen tundra of Florida! Well, not really, but it did drop below 50 and all the natives busted out parkas. Seriously.

So the powers that be at ACB have asked us all to come up with our favorite regional beers of 2013. At first, I thought this was going to be a cakewalk. Just my opinion? No research or fact-checking? Easy peasy! Then I got to thinking about all the great beers I have had this year and I realized that I was in trouble. There's a reason I love tapas restaurants - I have no discernable decisive abilities.

Picking three favorite beers from the past year is almost like choosing your favorite child. Come to think of it, I've met a lot of kids who are complete assholes so that's probably not as tough as one would think. However, selecting them from the booming craft beer hotbed that is Chicagoland is no enviable task. From Chicago's far west suburbs down to Indianapolis and up to the chilly regions of Michigan, the market has grown by leaps and bounds in 2013 and shows no signs of slowing down. Oh well, it's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it. Without further ado...

December 5^th marks the anniversary of the day that the United States repealed the 18^th amendment, ending thirteen dark years of Prohibition, and restoring the right for Americans to purchase and consume alcohol once again. Today is a pretty big holiday for us at the American Craft Beer offices. Some of us have been celebrating since 7 am this morning and we suggest that you find some time to as well.

So many beers, So little time...Newbies is your essential map to the "best of the best" and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week, and this week, we're all about the seasonals. From Eel River's Onyx Black IPA to Abita's Grapefruit Harvest, we've got all kinds of new releases you're going to want to chase down. So welcome to another edition of Newbies - your ultimate guide to great new craft beers!  

Hey it's Wednesday and that means it's Rumor Mill Time....Founders is on an enormous roll and we'll be bringing you everything we know so far. Plus we've got some huge news coming out of the Idle Hands and Enlightenment Ales camps. But that's not all... we've also got a special Rumor Mill winter release you'll want to chase down before the holidays. So fasten your seat belts everybody because....THIS WEEK'S RUMOR MILL IS ON!

It's the holiday season so allow me to be sentimental. I live in Dallas (and there is some kick-ass beer here, people - not just Shiner) but during the holidays, my heart and my palate crave some fine Virginia beer. Perhaps it's because that's where I first got into craft beer, perhaps it's because I'm always back in the Commonwealth for Christmas, or perhaps it's because I just want what I can't get regularly - but whatever the reason, there's no denying that Virginia is becoming as big a craft beer powerhouse as it is a wine region. Allow me to share some of my favs...

So many beers, So little time...Newbies is your essential map to the "best of the best" and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week and this week, we're all about the cold-weather seasonals. From Tröegs ¿Impending Descent? to Avery's Grand Maharaja and Mephistopheles Stout, we've got all kinds of new releases you're going to want to chase down.

American Craft Beer is not just my voice but many...We're a community of artists, entrepreneurs, writers, and dangerous hopheads based all over the country and we cover the craft beer scene because we love it. We're currently 17 correspondents deep and every one of them knows more about the craft beer scene in their own individual cities/regions than I could ever hope to. And with the holidays already upon us and 2013 fast coming to a close, I thought it might be fun to ask each of our writers to reflect upon the craft beer scene in their particular parts of the country and to share some of their favorites. And we'll be featuring their selections daily throughout December.

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 enjoying yourselves.

It's no secret that we here at ACB love the ladies! (Especially considering that more than half of our correspondents happen to hail from the fairer sex.) What's up sistas! So when we had the opportunity to start a project with Megan Cheek, Operations Manager at Orlando Brewing, I busted out the pink brew boots to make some Orlando brewing history...and some beer.

So many beers- So little time...Newbies is your essential map to the "best of the best" and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week and this week we're all about the cold-weather seasonals ...From Half Acre's Quakerbridge to  Russian River's Beatification Batch #6 , we've  got all kinds of new seasonals you're going to want to chase down.

Hey it's Friday, the beginning of a long holiday weekend, and if you're ready for some serious fun - we are on it! From the nation's coolest beer festivals to movies, music, and cutting-edge TV - we've got your back big-time. Plus we've got some Special Black FridayBeer Picks that you'll need to chase down. So welcome to this week's edition of our awesome Weekend Picks.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at American Craft Beer!

We so appreciate all of you who've have joined us this year and we're thankful you're here.

Have a wonderful time doing whatever you're doing today and know that we'll be back in action and "all about it" tomorrow...

Hey it's Wednesday and that means it's Rumor Mill Time....Goose Island has huge Black Friday events planned and we'll be bringing you everything we know so far. And there's a special Smuttynose Open House going on in New Hampshire this Friday and a "one-day-only" release that you don't want to miss at Lakefront. But that's not all...we've also got a special Rumor Mill winter release you'll want to chase down before the holidays. So fasten your seat belts everybody because....THIS WEEK'S RUMOR MILL IS ON!

So many beers, So little time...From special collaborations and craft beer one-offs to exciting new holiday seasonals, Newbies is your essential map to the "best of the best" and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week ...So welcome to another edition of Newbies - your guide to great new craft beer releases!

Bringing anything back from the dead takes effort. Just ask the Jurassic Park geneticists or the poor publicists responsible for Lindsay Lohan's reputation. So it's no shock that the folks at Bay Area homebrew collective BrewLab SF faced a few more challenges than they expected when they recently set out to resurrect an all but extinct Polish beer style.

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 enjoying yourselves.

We've got to admit that we weren't all that comfortable when Rogue Ales came up with their beard beer project last year. But upon hearing that a scientist and scent specialist had actually made cheese using skin bacteria - we've decided that things have gotten truly scary and that this terrible madness needs to end!

Hey it's Friday and the weekend's almost here. The temperature's dropping and you're more ready than ever for some serious fun. Well good, because we are on it! From the nation's coolest beer festivals to movies, music, and cutting-edge TV - we've got your back big-time. Plus we've got another one of our weekend beer picks for you to enjoy. So welcome to this week's edition of our awesome Weekend Picks.

There are few sights prettier than a lady's face. This may make me sound like a creep-o named Chester Mervert, but this line of reasoning supports the fact that beers from the Ladyface Ale Companie are some of the most beautiful things that you'll ever lay eyes on. And no, "Companie" is not spelled incorrectly. From its exquisite Brasserie menu to its deliciously crafted ales, this brewpub has a heavy French influence that will make anyone a bon vivant. I set out to Agoura Hills, CA for a date night with the wife to sample some haute cuisine and to interview the owner and founder of Ladyface, Cyrena Nouzeille.

So many beers, So little time... Newbies is your essential map to the "best of the best" and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week and this week, we're all about holiday beers. From Dogfish Head's FL!P to Cascade's Sang Noir, we've got all kinds of winter seasonals you'll want to check out. So welcome to a Special Holiday Edition of Newbies - your guide to great new craft beer releases!  

Hey it's Wednesday and that means it's Rumor Mill Time....Green Flash Brewing just released their own state of the union report and we'll be bringing you everything we know so far. Plus, Founders CEO Mike Stevens makes a stunning admission. But that's not all... we've also got a special Rumor Mill winter release you'll want to chase down before the holidays. So fasten your seat belts everybody because....THIS WEEK'S RUMOR MILL IS ON!

As a relative foreigner and native of Southern California, it can be tricky to orient oneself in this madly eclectic place. My oft-shunned geographic heritage not only sets me up for navigational failure downtown, but it also places me among a huge new demographic of foreigners doing our best to live out the dream of the 90s. It's difficult to understand Portland's culture until you've survived 8 months of grey skies and steady rain. You quickly learn why there are more breweries than any other city in the world (52), almost as many strip clubs (50), and a penchant for gourmet donuts.

One of the things that we love about the Flying Dog Brewery is their unique and brilliant imaging. And the fact that their iconic labels feature the artwork of the legendary Ralph Steadman (a true American genius) doesn't suck either. So when Flying Dog's, Director of Communications, Erin Weston advanced us this timely communiqué, we thought you'd want to know...

One of Lincoln, Nebraska's exciting new restaurant concepts, Jack & June, is giving the people what they want - locally sourced dishes & locally brewed beer.

Craft beer collaborations have grown exponentially over the last couple of years and have become increasingly popular with brewers and serious beer fans everywhere. What was once just a curiosity, collaboration projects are now very much a part of today's craft beer landscape...And there are reasons why they're now so important.

So many beers, So little time...From special collaborations and craft beer one-offs to exciting new fall and winter seasonals, Newbies is your essential map to the "best of the best" and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week ...

So welcome to another edition of Newbies - your guide to great new craft beer releases!