Hey it’s Wednesday and that means it’s Rumor Mill Time…The industry’s still talking about last week’s GABF and there are all kinds of things that we learned from it that we’ll be sharing. Plus we’ve got updates from our friends who are presenting Snallygaster 2013 in Washington, DC this weekend and some good news for New Jersey breweries. We’ve also got a special new Rumor Mill release that you’ll want to chase down. So fasten your seat belts everyone…THIS WEEK’S RUMOR MILL IS ON!

What Brewers Are Brewing (Denver, CO) – More than 745 brewers participated in the GABF Competition this year and entered their beers into 84 style categories. The average number of beer entered into each category was 51 and variations on Pale Ales were clearly the “most-entered” style overall. To the surprise of probably no one, the category with the highest number of entries was the American-Style India Pale Ale, which saw 252 submissions followed by Imperial India Pale Ale (149 entries), Herb and Spice Beer (134 entries), American-Style Pale Ale (124 entries), and American-Style Strong Pale Ale (120 entries).

Snallygaster Returns (Washington, DC) –Snallygaster is the name of a mythical dragon-like beast said to inhabit the East Coast’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s also the name of a one-of-a-kind fall craft beer festival that’s returning to the Nation’s Capital this weekend. Described as a “gargantuan beer jamboree,” this year’s Snallygaster moves to Union Market and will feature more than 150 craft beers personally curated by DC beer “wunderkind” Greg Engert. As suits the season, expect a wealth of classic Oktoberfest lagers and German-inspired beers, along with autumn seasonals and “can’t believe that’s here” rarities. Most craft beer festivals are fun – a rare few are special – and this is one of them.

Beer Writing Symposium (Lexington, KY) – In spite of the fact that many of our friends and family members are deeply worried about how we spend our time here at American Craft Beer, there are now some academics taking us and people like us in craft beer print and digital media seriously. Craft Writing: Beer, The Digital, and Craft Culture is a symposium that will be held at the University of Kentucky in February that will showcase brewers and professional writers from the craft beer industry and focus on the ways the industry utilizes writing – in various digital forms – to promote, market, brand, and foster relationships throughout the industry. Hey we’re legit – now you can write-off sending us promo beer!

New Jersey the Most Awarded State at the GABF (Denver, CO) – Craft beer has really grown in New Jersey over the last couple of years and the state’s craft beer culture is finally getting the notice it deserves. New Jersey topped the list in ratio of medals to entries by state at this year’s GABF competition – that’s one medal won among each seven entries.

Distributor of the Year Get Righteous Props! (Denver, CO) – Although some of our friends in distribution might disagree, many view the wholesaler side of things as less “sexy” than other aspects of the craft beer biz. But a great distributor can make all the difference in the world in a brewery’s success and the Craft Beer Distributor of the Year Award (presented jointly by the National Beer Wholesalers Association and the Brewers Association at this year’s GABF) is an acknowledgement of their importance to the industry. This year’s award went to DeCrescente Distributing Company of Mechanicville, New York and we’re psyched for them!

A Rumor Mill Release You Want to Look Out For

San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company has announced the fifth release in their popular Zymaster series and it sounds intriguing. Harvest One American Pale Ale is a 7.2% ABV American Pale brewed using an unnamed hop variety that lends this brew its distinct bitterness and lively aroma. Look for this beer to be available now on draft and 22 oz. bombers in select California markets and to roll out nationally over the next couple of months.