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.

Hey it's Friday, the weekend's almost here, and you are 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 - we've got your back big-time. So welcome to this week's edition of our awesome Weekend Picks.

When you think of craft beer in Boston, two breweries come to mind for the majority of us: Harpoon Brewery and Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams). And to have the opportunity to sit down with a craft beer legend like Harpoon's Dan Kenary and to get his take on Harpoon as well as on the state of the industry was beyond exciting!

I'm sure I'm not alone in asking where the bleeping summer went, and I'm unwilling to relinquish August without a fight. If we're headed for shorter days and cooler nights here in the Hub, we might as well make the most of it. Fortunately, the 4^th annual Mass Brewers Festival on August 30 promises a fantastic last hurrah - with a surprise twist.

So many beers, So little time...With so many craft breweries, releasing so many beers, we thought it might help to provide a weekly update on all the new beers  that are hitting the streets...So welcome to this week's edition of Newbies - your guide to great new craft beer releases!

Hey it's Wednesday and that means it's Rumor Mill Time...Word has it that Founders Brewing will soon be tapped out and Grand Rapids is reeling! We'll be bringing you what we know so far. Plus we've got some news from our friends at the NYC Brewers Guild and some updates from down in Dallas. We've also got a special new Rumor Mill release that you'll want to chase down. So fasten your seat belts....THIS WEEK'S RUMOR MILL IS ON!

If you're reading this, you're almost certainly a fan of craft beer. You drink enough of it on a regular basis to know that new breweries with new beers are popping up nearly every day all over the country. You read about breweries' latest releases, and foam at the mouth when you hear about something called a "Creme Brulee Stout."

John Gartner works the streets for New Belgium in Washington, DC, and like most of the people in this industry, he's a great guy. And though John can be passionate when it comes to all things New Belgium, he's not prone to hype. So when he calls to invite me out for "something very special"...he's got my attention.

"We felt like we were on the cusp of something really great happening in the Omaha metro area...We knew education and exposure were the keys to the growth of craft beer in Nebraska." Thanks to the efforts of passionate supporters and activists such as Kim Kavulak, owner of Nebraska Brewing Company and founder of the Great Nebraska Beer Fest (GNBF), Nebraska's craft scene has truly become something special. Now in its fifth year, GNBF stays true to its mission to provide the community with an amazing selection of world-class beer while giving fans countless opportunities to interact and learn from the brewers themselves.

When craft beer really began to take off in the 90s, the focus (beyond the obvious upgrades in flavor, texture, and variety) was the noticeable boost in alcohol content. Nowadays, craft beer is reaching herculean heights when it comes to strength, making the notion of a Session, or lower alcohol beer, especially attractive to those who love craft beer. Because sometimes some of us still have to look and act like responsible members of society.