Last week felt like it lasted a month. Between the horrific bombings on Marathon Monday – Boston’s beloved day for collectively celebrating the joy of personal achievement – and the nerve-wracking lockdown/manhunt on Friday, everyone was on edge. It was hard to stop watching the news, which constantly reminded us that we were in danger, and no one was safe.

Who knew that "micro" wasn't even as small as a brewery could get? Apparently everyone, as "nanobreweries" have taken the craft beer scene by storm over the past couple of years.

How come we’re not surprised by this? A recent study led by David Kraken of Indiana University is suggesting what we at American Craft Beer.com have long suspected: that even the slightest taste of beer can trigger a rush of chemical pleasure in the brain.

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.

Few things are more iconic than the American beer can – and Budweiser’s can in particular. Maybe it’s all the time we spent together growing up …but they’re ingrained in our memories and are part of our cultural DNA. But no matter what you think of Budweiser‘s beer nowadays, you’ve still got to admit that their can is an American classic. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that you don’t fuck with a classic.

Hey it’s Friday and the weekend is almost here. And as far as we’re concerned, it can’t come quick enough. 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 our special weekend pick that you’ll want to chase down. So welcome to this week’s edition of our awesome Weekend Picks!

It’s a pretty typical story, really – 9-to-5 HR consultant decides to pursue his passion for beer, pairs with a work pal and voila, they have a brewery in the ‘burbs. Except the consultant keeps his day job, putting the plans together takes two years, and both men are dead-set on keeping the brewery in Southie (South Boston, if you’re being formal) even though most of the neighborhood is zoned for condos and the space they’ve found requires tank modifications that will impact the fermentation process.

A small store front in the heart of Orlando’s Audubon Park is the home of Taps from Scratch (TFS). It’s deceiving from the outside, but inside, it’s a maze of little rooms almost like a home, with couches and comfy chairs, art, music, and taps of different beers. The first time someone walks through the doors of TFS, the look on their face is always the same – a simultaneous flash of curiosity, excitement, and bewilderment, as they wonder “what is this place?” Well, it’s a community…

For those of you who are counting down the days until Fort Worth’s first Untapped Festival on 4/20, you’re more than likely well aware of the quality and rarity of some of the 200+ craft beers being poured from more than 65 breweries. It’s clear that the beer selection alone is reason enough to get tickets. What seals the deal is the fact that Untapped is way more than just a phenomenal day of beer drinking – it’s a chance to catch some of the hottest indie bands, ranging from national acts to local favorites.

Hey it’s Wednesday and it’s Rumor Mill Time…..There’s big, big news coming out of the “City of Lakes” and we’re bringing you everything we know so far. Plus we’ve got some fast-breaking craft beer news coming in from Oklahoma and some huge news from our friends at Founders. We’ve also got another hot new spring release that you’ll want to chase down. So fasten your seatbelts everybody….THIS WEEK’S RUMOR MILL IS ON!