We can't believe it's May already...So much has happened this year and it doesn't appear that things are going to be slowing down any time soon. But no worries - Rumor Mill is always on the case, keeping you plugged in to all the craft beer news that matters. Plus we've an all-important update on what we've been drinking lately and you absolutely don't want to miss that.

The fifth state we're sipping from is The Golden State, California. Now, in all fairness, tackling this state isn't like taking on the rest: California is the most populous of the 50 States, it has a GDP that would rank about 7th or 8th in the world, according to the CCBA the state houses roughly 554 craft breweries - which increases roughly 20% per year, and It's the foundation upon which craft beer came to be in America today. The bulk of the state's breweries are found in the population centers in the Bay Area, the Central Coast and Metropolitan Los Angeles, and San Diego. As of 2013, the state ranked 1st in total production (2.9 Million Barrels), 1st in economic impact ($4.7 Billion), 1st in total breweries and 19th in breweries per capita, according to the Brewers Assocation.

So many beers- So little time...  Free State has an inaugural Porch Series release rolling out that commemorates the legendary Dirty Kanza 200 - a bicycle race that takes place over miles of rugged Kansas backroads. Plus we've some new releases from Saint Arnold and Innis & Gunn that sound exceptionally awesome as well.

There was no doubt in my mind that the Copenhagen Beer Celebration, hosted by renowned gypsy brewer and founder of Mikkeller, Mikkel Borg Bjergsø, would be a world-class event. But the quality of the 350+ unique and one-off beers served, hosted within the colorful setting of Denmark's eclectic and culinary powerhouse capital city, more than exceeded my expectations; it sparked a newfound appreciation and an insatiable thirst for unexpected, unfamiliar, and travel-worthy brews from around the world.

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.

Hey the work week is almost a wrap... And it's time for some springtime fun. Well good, because we're all about it and we've got all kinds of ideas for you. From the nation's coolest beer festivals, movies and music to cutting edge TV - we've got your back big-time.  Plus we've a special weekend beer pick for you too, because we know you'll be drinking!

So welcome to our awesome Weekend Picks...

Being part of ACB's correspondent team and representing them in a great craft beer city like San Diego can be overwhelming...I could spend almost every weekend covering another incredible brewery and never run out options. But as a fan of craft beer industry and also a student of marketing and advertising my interests sometimes converge. So I thought I'd step away from my last brewery visit (hope to get to all of them) and tackle something larger that's been on my mind...

Something like Craft Beer and Advertising.

So many beers- So little time... Fort George Brewery does an annual collaboration IPA and this year they've enlisted Georgetown Brewing and the Pfriem Family Brewers to help them. Word has it that things got pretty wild and that's why we're psyched about their latest 3-way. Plus we've some new releases from Shmaltz and Innis & Gunn that sound exceptionally awesome as well.

Our friends at the Brewers Association asked us to remind you that American Craft Beer Week 2015 is just around the corner.  We're making plans for it around here and so should you.From May 11th through May 17th, the craft beer community will be coming together for its annual celebration of American Craft Beer. And this year might just be the biggest celebration ever, with all kinds of exclusive brewery tours, special craft beer releases, food and beer pairings, and tap takeovers taking place in all 50 states.

We can't believe it's May already...So much has happened this year and it doesn't appear that things are going to be slowing down any time soon. But no worries - Rumor Mill is always on the case, keeping you plugged in to all the craft beer news that matters. Plus we've an all-important update on what we've been drinking lately and you absolutely don't want to miss that.