So many beers, So little time...Newbies is your essential map to the "best of the best" and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week. From New Belgium's new Asheville collaboration to the latest releases from Ska, Hagar 24, and Rock Art Brewing - we've all kinds of beers that you'll want to chase down.

So welcome to another edition of Newbies -Your ultimate guide to great new craft beers!

There are a limited amount of craft beer lovers that get the chance to ditch their 9 to 5 to fulfill their dream of opening their own brewery.  Owner Roger Bott of LAB Brewing Company in Agoura Hills, CA not only was privileged enough to scratch this accomplishment off his bucket list, but he was also fortunate to use the skills gained from his previous employment to better his dream.  Roger worked for 14 years at mega-biopharmaceutical company Amgen which creates products that help people with serious illnesses. Roger continues to help people with his oh-so-rejuvenating elixir-like beers that have earned him his nickname, Dr. Hops, and have helped him Leave Amgen Behind (LAB). 

Hey it's Wednesday and that means it's Rumor Mill Time....Big Beer is shelling out Big Bucks in an effort to ensure that their politician friends understand what their directives are-we'll be bringing you absolutely everything we know so far! Plus we've an update from our friends at Green Flash and some time-sensitive news from the "bad boys" at BrewDog.

So fasten your seat belts everybody because....THIS WEEK'S RUMOR MILL IS ON!

So many beers, So little time...Newbies is your essential map to the "best of the best" and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week. From Great Divide's 20th Anniversary Belgian Ale to the latest releases from Stone Brewing and Saranac - we've all kinds of beers that you'll want to chase down.

So welcome to another edition of Newbies -Your ultimate guide to great new craft beers!

Our friends at the Brewers Association just released 2013's craft beer numbers and to the surprise of probably nobody who reads us regularly, last year was pretty impressive. Not only did the industry post record sales and volume levels - but craft beer's overall market share surpassed 7% for the first time ever!

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 off enjoying yourselves.

Over the last few years, Brandon Wright, owner of Chicago Brew Werks (CBW) in suburban Plainfield, Illinois, has been able to position his homebrew shop to meet and even exceed the needs of both in-store and online shoppers. While its selection of hops and malts is considered to be the best in the Midwest, the shop is shipping orders nationwide at a breakneck pace.

Hey it's Friday and work's been brutal and the weather not much better - so you're ready for some fun. Well good, because we're all about it and we've got all kinds of ideas. From the nation's coolest beer festivals to movies, music, and cutting-edge TV - we've got your back big-time. We've also a Weekend Beer Pick for you too, because we know you'll be drinking.

We at American Craft Beer have long been advocates of drinking as one way to a healthier life. While some see our non-stop commitment to consuming as much beer as possible wanton debauchery at best, we see it as research. And it seems like almost weekly, there are reports coming out that validate our endeavors.

So many beers, So little time...Newbies is your essential map to the "best of the best" and the hottest new craft beers rolling out each week. From Ommegang's newest Game of Thrones ale to the latest releases from SweetWater and Dominion Brewing - we've all kinds of beers that you'll want to chase down.

So welcome to another edition of Newbies -Your ultimate guide to great new craft beers!