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.

Purple Healer Closes Its Doors (Danville, PA) – With all of the positive news out there about the growth and good times that the craft beer industry is currently enjoying, it’s always sad and sobering to hear something bad. Pennsylvania-based Purple Healer Brewing Company ended their operation last Friday.

And then there’s this:

New Brewery Permits Sky Rocket (Alexandria, VA) – Our friends at the NBWA alerted us to the astounding fact that there were 4,526 brewery permits issued in the first six months of 2014. The organization added that the figure “is significantly higher than the 3,040 reported by the Brewers Association, with the clear difference being the 1,486 breweries that may just be starting to brew, have not reported any production, or may actually be brewing but flying below everyone’s radar.”

And also this:

Number of Operational San Diego County Breweries & Brew Houses Nears 100 (San Diego, CA) – According to the West Coaster, there are 96 breweries (and brew houses) currently operating in San Diego County. That’s an amazing number and we know that there are more planning to open later this year.

And in a somewhat-related matter:

New Holland’s World Conquest Tour Continues (Holland, MI) – The New Holland Brewing Company has announced plans to distribute its products to four new markets across the Great Plains and into the Rocky Mountains beginning mid-August. Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa will soon be a part of the brewery’s now 24-state territory for beer.

And happily on an entirely different subject:

Denver Chef Takes Home Big-Time Win at Ommegang Festival (Cooperstown, NY) – While more than 3,000 beer fans were enjoying serious Belgian beer, skydivers, circus performers, live music, and fireworks at Ommegang’s Belgium Comes to Cooperstown Festival last weekend, Denver chef Jensen Cummings was being crowned the HopChef champion. Co-sponsored by SAVEUR Magazine, the HopChef competition is part of Ommegang’s Great Beer Deserves Great Food initiative – dedicated to the advancement of great beer as a perfect complement to fine fare.