Summertime in Nebraska. Sweltering heat, drenching humidity, ever-changing weather. Especially in July - that's when the heat and humidity really ramp up. What better time to leave The Good Life and head one state to the southwest and into the sunny yet somehow still cool (or at least mild) climate of Colorado? That's why, every Fourth of July holiday, my family makes the journey across Nebraska for a weeklong beercation in Colorful Colorado.

Who says work & play don't mix? The four owners of Petagogy, an all-natural pet supply store in Pittsburgh, found a way to make both themselves and their four-legged friends happy with their successful quarterly Yappy Hours. In doing so, they've discovered that beer tastes better when shared with man's best friend.

Anyone who watches and enjoys pop culture knows that success and popularity can sometimes come with a brutal price. Actors and musicians who've struggled for years in the shadows can finally break through, only to find themselves beset with massive demands from their newly admiring fans and vulnerable to all kinds of criticisms as they negotiate their lives in the spotlight. ..That's kind of how we look at the GABF.

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.

Brewers of light beers have had a jump-start on canning since the mid-1930s, when Pabst, Coors, and Schlitz began distributing their wares in steel (which must have been rough on post-Prohibition party planners). By 1969, cans were outselling bottles for the first time, but it took until 2002 for craft to catch up. Why the long wait?

Hey it's Friday, the weekend's almost here, and you are "beyond ready" for some serious summertime fun. Well good, because that's where we come in. We're all about it and we've got your back big-time. Plus we've got a couple of weekend beer picks that you'll want to track down. So welcome to this week's edition of our awesome Weekend Picks!

We knew that people would be into celebrating yesterday's IPA Day - but we don't think that anyone saw this coming.... Reports started surfacing just after midnight last night that the response to 2013's IPA Day had been massive and that the nation's IPA supply lines, at least for now, had been decimated!

In the weeks leading up to the Oregon Brewers Festival - Brew Fest or OBF for short - there was a lot of controversy about the changes this year: no more plastic mugs and returning to glass, the pour sizes being 3 ounces instead of 4, another day added to the festival, etc. Within an hour of entering the hallowed ground of Portland's beautiful Waterfront Park, all the hubbub died, the taps flowed, the raucous bands enlivened the crowd, and the levity of the moment washed away the critics, leaving just a collection of beer lovers and the objects of their affection. The Fest was back and as great as it's ever been, if not better, for 2013.

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. And since today is IPA Day, we're paying special attention to this immensely popular style. So welcome to this week's All IPA Edition of Newbies - your guide to great new IPA releases!  

Hey it's Wednesday and it's Rumor Mill Time...Word has it that Deschutes Brewery will be continuing to roll out more barrels! We'll be bringing you what we know so far. Plus we've got some fast-breaking news from our friends at Victory Brewing and an update from Iron Maiden. We've also got three new Ninkasi releases that you'll want to chase down. So fasten your seat belts everybody...THIS WEEK'S RUMOR MILL IS ON!