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.

American Brewing Goes Public (Edmonds, WA) – Washington State’s American Brewing Company went public last week – a surprise move of no small consequence that sent ripples throughout the Pacific Northwest’s craft beer community. The award-winning brewery is now trading on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) under the symbol ABRW. In an additional act of undisguised recklessness, American Brewing’s CEO Neil Fallon has agreed to sit down with us at ACB to give us the “inside-skinny” on what led to his decision to go public and what it might mean for his company going forward. Neil’s a man with a plan and you’ll learn more about what he’s thinking in our exclusive interview with Neil tomorrow.

Is Richmond in the Running for Stone’s East Coast Operation? (Richmond, VA) – It appears that another city may also be in the final mix as a possible location for Stone Brewing’s East Coast facility.The Richmond Times-Dispatch is reporting that the “City Council has called a special meeting today regarding permits for publicly owned land near the James River between downtown and Rocketts Landing, and several City Hall sources said the measures were being brought forward to clear a path for the Stone Brewing project.”

Oregon Beer Sales Set New Record in 2013 (Portland, OR) – Oregon’s craft beer fans have outdone themselves yet again!The Oregon Brewers Guild is saying “that Oregonians bought more than 500,000 barrels of beer produced in Oregon in 2013, setting a new record in Oregon craft beer history and leading the U.S. in percentage of dollars spent on craft beer.”

ACB Beer Month Alert (Anywhere, USA) – In our ongoing effort to help you better manage your sorry lives…we’ve instituted regular beer month alerts so that you can plan where you need to be. Virginia will be celebrating its vibrant and growing craft beer scene all this month and there are special events going on all over the state. So hop in your car and hit one of their excellent beer trails. We think the Nelson 151 Trail is particularly awesome, but you also need to check out Virginia’s Red, White and Brew Trail, try their Brew Ridge Trail, and the scenic Blue Ridge Beer Loop.

Anheuser-Busch InBev Exec Walks the Plank (St Louis, MO) – When brands fall on hard times, as the once dominant Bud Light has, there are more times than not, consequences. Advertising Age is reporting that Anheuser-Busch executive Rob McCarthy, the brand VP for Bud Light “will be leaving the company at the end of the summer,” and “will be replaced by Alexander Lambrecht, who has been with the company since 2005.” We wish Mr. Lambert all the luck in the world revitalizing the struggling Bud Light brand – because we fear that he’ll need it.