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!

If you were a kid or young adult in the early 1990s, and you heard the term "El Segundo," then you may think of the A Tribe Called Quest song, "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo." The South Bay city looks nothing like the desolate area that the music video depicts, where Q-Tip left his props numbers and jimmy hats. In fact, El Segundo, CA is one of the few places in Los Angeles County that has that Anytown-Suburbia, USA feel where it seems like everyone knows each other. But that's only half of El Segundo; the other half of the city is a bustling high-tech industrial area that houses several aerospace companies, the Lakers practice facility, an oil refinery, the LA Air Force Base, and is literally a stones throw away from the runways of LAX. Rob Croxall is the perfect representative of this city - not only did he grow up in El Segundo and worked in the aerospace industry, but he also encapsulates its culture in each one of his West Coast crafts at El Segundo Brewing Company.

As the summer sun descends southward, the nights grow longer, and the leaves begin their colorful demise, another annual tradition has made its presence known in just about every place you go these days. Pumpkin. Flavored. Everything . Especially beers. Please don't misunderstand - I'm just a red-blooded American like y'all, but I demand variety and must seek out the best each season has to offer. The fresh hop (not wet hop^*) beers and the old-world style of the Flanders Red/Flemish Brown are a great place to start. Here's a map by which to plot your escape from Pumpkin-flavored hell.

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 enjoying yourselves.

Rob Martin is an impressive guy - not everyone can go from a brewery employee to the President and Owner of Ipswich Ale Brewery in just 5 years. That's a big achievement at any brewery - but Ipswich Ale is not just "any" brewery. Since 1995, this brewery has been crafting great beers not only for themselves but also by contracting out their services to other up-and-coming breweries.

If you're into craft beer at all, you know that the Great American Beer Festival took place in Denver over the weekend. You probably know as well that the GABF is not just about sampling serious beer - it also plays host to one of this country's most important beer competitions and 2013's winners were announced on Saturday.

Hey it's Friday, the weekend's almost here, and you're ready for some serious fun. Well good, because that's where we come in.  From the nation's coolest beer festivals to movies, music and cutting-edge TV shows - we've got your back big-time. Plus we've a weekend beer pick for you that you'll want to chase down. So welcome to this week's edition of our awesome Weekend Picks.

Athens, GA may be known for its vibrant bar scene, but there's another attraction you should consider the next time you're down for a visit: Kabrewing. Grab some friends and some serious beer and head out to the Broad River and enjoy early fall the right way.

Think this is just about the National Parks being closed? Think again!

The government's political gamesmanship is having far reaching consequences and it's affecting the craft beer industry directly. It all starts with the TTB who like many regulatory bodies in government have had most of their functions shutdown since October 1st. And while many of those who work in the brewing industry are far too familiar this agency, many of you who just enjoy drinking craft beer may not have a clue as to who the hell they are or of the significant sway they hold over the industry.

As you read this, I am making my way from Boston to Denver for the Great American Beer Festival. I have packed my ACB T-shirt, business cards, digital recorder, and cell phone charger. I am carrying granola bars, gum, and Tylenol in my purse. I am ever so slightly terrified. The stats from last year are mindboggling - 3,000+ beers and 49,000 attendees.