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 we get it. You're busy and you can't possibly hang with us 24/7. But still, we don't want you to be missing all the good stuff. So as part of our ongoing commitment to bringing you the best craft beer and lifestyle coverage on the face of the planet - and to keep you plugged into our ongoing recklessness - we do a weekly compilation of our recent good, bad and ugly.

So welcome to another Friday Wrap-Up.

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!

(Sponsored Post)

One of the things that have made the American craft beer scene so unique and exciting is its collective nature, its willingness to share, and its openness to collaborate. And unlike other industries, where secrets are held close to the vest and competitors kept at a distance, the craft beer biz is not only open to learning and working with others - they actively celebrate it.

Which brings me to Old Chicago Pizza and Taproom and the latest brew they recently collaborated with Summit Brewing on.

So many beers, So little time...In recent years, barrel-aged beers have become some of the world's most coveted creations and now Stone is taking this concept in an unexpected direction. . Plus we've some new releases from Anchor and Victory that sound exceptionally awesome as well.

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.