Okay, maybe we are being overly dramatic - but we don't think so. What's really happening is less of a turf war and more of a pumpkin-carving contest for charity, and some of the country's better-known craft breweries will be participating. The New Belgium crew initiated the challenge, inviting their peers to put their carving knives to their pumpkins for bragging rights and a chance to have $5,000 donated to their favorite charity. Unfortunately, even good things can turn ugly - and knowing the parties involved here - we worry.

It starts off slow - a few days below 75, a scattering of orange leaves. Then Starbucks releases its pumpkin spice latte and all hell breaks loose. Suddenly, the orange is inescapable. Some people put up a perfunctory fight, lamenting the loss of summer, while craft brewers are wrestling with the ultimate question: to pumpkin, or not to pumpkin?

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 so is the fall - so maybe you're ready for some change of seasons' 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! And we've got another one of our weekend beer picks for you -so you'll want to check that out too. Welcome to this week's edition of our awesome Weekend Picks.

Beer festivals are a great way to get cities on the beer map, and that's just what Anaheim did when they organized their first-ever OC Fest of Ales last year. I was unable to attend the beer festival last year, but from what I heard about it, I made sure to make an appearance this time around.

You don't have to drive far to find good craft beer in Seattle. Heck, at times you don't even have to walk all that far. But then sometimes, the open road calls... and when she calls, you have to get in your Ford Fiesta and answer, dammit. And hope you can bring back something worthwhile in your growler. 

The open road recently led the mister and me to the oft-ignored North Central part of Washington State, where the old-west themed town of Winthrop sits cute as a button in the middle of the verdant Methow Valley (pronounced "MET-how"). 

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...Boulder, Colorado-based Upslope Brewing has big plans for the "Lone Star State." We'll be bringing you what we know so far. Plus we've got some updates from the folks at Daredevil and some soaring rhetoric from our friends at Stone. 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!

2013's GWAR B-Q, considered by many metal fans to be the most important slaughter-fest of the summer, returned to Richmond, Virginia on August 17. And in addition to the musical mayhem that it's known for, this year's blood-soaked extravaganza also brought the long-awaited GWAR Beer to thirsty bohabs (look it up) from all over the world who had made their pilgrimage to the band's unhallowed ground zero.

Out of all the stellar beer festivals taking place in Texas, which one offers the most expansive selection of kickass, local-only brews? The upcoming Austin-based Texas Craft Brewers Festival, which will once again shine a well-deserved spotlight on hardworking brewers from all over the state this coming Saturday, September 28, at Fiesta Gardens.