If you are a fan of craft beer (of course you are, you're here, right?) and if you are a fan of metal (and if you're not, you should be!), you may have noticed that a lot of craft breweries are collaborating with metal bands to make some pretty interesting beers. Now the legendary GWAR will be entering the fray with their Impaled Ale, which two fans will be contract brewing with the help of Cigar City and GWAR's lead singer Oderus Urungus.

So many beers, So little time...In this week's edition of Newbies, we give you the latest on a collaboration between Sierra Nevada and Boulevard, three new summer brews from Widmer, and new variety 12-packs launched by Oskar Blues, Odell and Dominion. So strap yourself in and click through for your guide to great new craft beer releases!  

Hey it's Wednesday and it's Rumor Mill Time.....There's news that Sierra Nevada's East Coast operation could be tanking already! We'll be bringing you everything we know so far. Plus, we've got some fast-breaking news from the "Mile High City" and some updates from our friends at Boulevard and Daredevil. We've also got an awesome new release that you'll want to chase down. So fasten your seatbelts everybody....THIS WEEK'S RUMOR MILL IS ON!

One of my favorite parts about covering the Boston beer scene has been witnessing breweries in all walks of life. You've got your grandfatherly types like Harpoon and Sam Adams that have been around since craft became, well, a craft. And you've got your youngsters like Trillium and Newburyport Brewing Co, who are still learning to crawl. It's fascinating to watch a brewery grow up, and Waltham-based Portico Brewing Co. is well on its way to walking.

The Berkley Beer Company is a three-barrel nanobrewery located in the small farming community of Berkley, Massachusetts - and it's also one of the "Bay State's" most exciting new operations. Founded in 2012 by Glenn Barboza, the brewery was an almost immediate success, and they've been happily working overtime since then just to keep up with demand.

Set in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the inaugural South Denver Beer Festival delighted craft brew lovers with both scenic views and tons of high quality Front Range beers. Over 60 breweries, cideries, and brewpubs were on hand for the two-day festival, offering samples of some of the country's best microbrews.

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 your weekend.

Saturday, May 4^th marks the American Homebrewing Association's 16^th annual AHA Big Brew. At noon CT, homebrewers and beer drinkers around the world will simultaneously clink glasses to celebrate the passion for their craft.

Hey it's Friday and the weekend's almost here. The weather's getting warmer and you're ready for some fun, and that's where we come in! We're all about it and we've got your back big-time. Plus, we've got a special weekend beer pick that you'll want to track down. So welcome to this week's edition of our awesome Weekend Picks!

When I was younger, I was a little bit obsessed with getting into the Guinness Book of World Records. Today, I am writing to say proudly that I have finally done it! On Sunday April 28, 2013, with a little help from Flying Dog Brewery, Hough's Taproom and Brewpub in Pittsburgh, and 293 other beer lovers, we broke the record for the World's Largest Beer Tasting.