American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.

Ahh, December in Boston -- a time for tourist hordes at Fanueil Hall, wrapping presents in front of the On Demand yule log, and lobbing angry tweets at the MBTA. If there's one thing to look forward to amidst the icy streets and T delays, it's a tasty pint at the end of the tunnel. And if there's one thing I've learned in the past year, it's this: we have so many to choose from. In no particular order, here are three beers that I'll reflect on fondly when I think of 2013.

A few days ago, I left Boston for the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, convinced I wouldn't make it back in one piece; what passes for a full-length drinking event in normal life was only 1/4^th of the festivities. The good news: I lived to tell the tale! The bad news: I barely caught a glimpse of the mountains.

As the old adage goes, "If you want to be good, you need to fit in. If you want to be different, you better be great." Tom Powers, the owner of Union Brewhouse in Weymouth, MA, set out to take the road less traveled and in a sea of fizzy yellow macro lager, decided to shed the chains of normality and open a "no crap on tap" craft beer-focused bar in the South Shore of Massachusetts. 

BrewDog is said to be Scotland's largest independent brewery, producing more than 120,000 bottles per month for export all over the world. It was founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, a duo known not only for their entrepreneurial instincts but also for their independent and audacious spirits. These guys are natural born post-punk showmen and we think it's fair to say that with BrewDog, they have single-handedly revitalized the UK's moribund beer scene. James Watt and Martin Dickie exemplify everything that makes the craft beer movement so cutting-edge and exciting - not bad for a couple of Scotsmen who may soon become America's newest TV stars.

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!  

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!  

Brewers of light beers have had a jump-start on canning since the mid-1930s, when Pabst, Coors, and Schlitz began distributing their wares in steel (which must have been rough on post-Prohibition party planners). By 1969, cans were outselling bottles for the first time, but it took until 2002 for craft to catch up. Why the long wait?

This past weekend WGBH, New England's public broadcasting powerhouse, linked up with Massachusetts brewers to curate its first (and fingers-crossed annual) craft beer festival. Seventeen breweries schlepped over to Brighton to display their wares, connect with enthusiasts, and get the word out about their next big projects. I was on hand to do a little brew Q&A, and I've gotta say, no one really needed my help. 

Behind the headliners that made the Bonnaroo festival a sold-out draw this past weekend for 90,000 music lovers were the unsung artists of the event - the 25 craft breweries who hauled kegs and staff across the country to set up shop in the lofty Broo'ers Festival tent. From Chico, California to Brooklyn, New York, they came to share their wares, win over new fans, and shower a little education (and free samples) on those smart enough to show up for daily Broo U sessions. 

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!