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 power-pounding eggnog.

Reinheitsgebot™ (Munich, Germany) – UNESCO is a specialized agency within the United Nations that does all kinds of things, including recognizing highpoints in the world’s cultural and natural heritage through their UNESCO World Heritage list. And now Germany’s brewers association wants that UN organization to recognize Reinheitsgebot, the five-century-old “purity” law that once governed how German beer must be brewed, as a world class tradition and wants it be added to the World Heritage list joining other traditions like the Argentinean tango, according to NPR. What’s next … Reinheitsgebot the Movie?

Craft Beer Related Gifts Huge This Holiday Season (Washington, DC) – “Interest in craft beer-related gifts surged this year,” reports American Craft Beer Editor-In- Chief Tom Bobak. “This year’s gift suggestions were so much fun and we received an overwhelming response to our entire ACB Holiday Gift Guide Series. My favorite suggestion was The Beer Cave, but all the ideas were, I think, pretty awesome!”

From Brewery to Brownie (Asheville, NC) – That’s the vision of Robert Bryant, a former biochemist with Schering-Plough Research Institute, and now co-owner of Asheville Brew Bites, a small company making brownies from brewer’s yeast waste left over from the brewing process. According to Asheville’s Citizen Times , “Bryant thinks his beer treats could make a big impact on both health and the recycling of the beer industry’s leftovers.”

Is Craft Beer Becoming Tapped Out? (Newton, MA) – That’s what a Massachusetts-based restaurant research organization is suggesting. Restaurant Sciences LLC, an independent firm that closely tracks food and beverage product sales throughout the foodservice industry in North America, recently reported that the volume sales of on-premise craft beer decreased each of the last 3 months (September, October, and November 2013), declining an average of 6% versus a year ago.

Shocker – Ohio Legislators to Consider Doing the Right Thing! (Columbus, OH) – In a concerning departure from form, Cleveland.com is reporting that “a state representative from Lorain has re-introduced legislation to allow brewers to make and sell beer that contains as much as 21% alcohol – a huge increase from Ohio’s current 12% limit.” Imagine…giving breweries more freedom and craft beer fans more options…what a concept.

Sweet Home Alabama (Fort Collins, CO) – It appears that the New Belgium Brewing World Domination Tour is showing little signs of letting up – they’ll begin distributing beer throughout Alabama as of January 27. The “Yellowhammer” state will be New Belgium’s 36th state of distribution. The initial rollout will include all of the brewery’s flagship offerings as well as their Lips of Faith series.