The Washington, D.C. area has garnered a less-than-stellar reputation recently. Whether it's the dismal approval rating of Congress and the recent government shutdown debacle, or the failings of storied sports franchises that can't succeed when it matters most, to outsiders the D.C. area may appear to be a place that can't get its act together. So it may be surprising then that a burgeoning craft beer scene has been thriving throughout the region, with the Port City Brewing Company coming out as one of its leaders.

Hey, even though we act like it, we admit we don't know everything. And one thing that's cool to know more about is the kind of beer that you're drinking. Every beer style has a back-story, a hometown, and a reason why it came about. It all plays a role in a beer's DNA and we think that matters.

So welcome to the latest in our ongoing series (drum roll please...) "What the Hell Is a Märzen?"

Images of the Portland area are often associated with lush forests, majestic snow-capped peaks, and more recently, as an idyllic world, like the one seen in 'Portlandia.' And for more than 150 years, this is just what the natives have wanted you to believe. In reality, the scenic beauty of the town has been over promoted to hide the seedy and eerie underbelly of a land first inhabited by cannibal settlers, no good scallywag mariners, and more. All of the above conditions created the ideal incubator for the 'Shanghai' of decent citizens, many houses of ill repute, and some tasty-ass brews. This is where George Frederick Bottler and his tomb come in...

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.

Last Saturday, ACB attended Snallygaster 2013 in Washington, DC, and in spite of its huge crowds, the event was a blast and ran smoothly. An attentive and involved staff oversaw everything. They were always on hand to answer questions, direct the festive masses towards their favorite beers, and make sure that nothing got out of hand. As we wrote earlier this week, Snallygaster was a craft beer experience done right....Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

Hey it's Friday...The weather's changing and the weekend's almost here. And with fall in the air, you're more ready than ever for some serious fun. Well good, because we are on it! From the nation's coolest beer festivals to movies, music, and cutting-edge TV - we've got your back big-time. So welcome to this week's edition of our awesome Weekend Picks.

Two weeks have passed since the Great American Beer Festival, and I'm still thinking about the two days I spent in Denver. What's stuck with me beyond the official sessions and social activities is the sheer scope of breweries and styles I saw showcased in the exhibit hall and the Awards Ceremony. It's astounding to reflect on this fact: craft has evolved so far that it now encompasses 84 nationally recognized categories, from Imperial Stouts and Red Ales to Kölsch and Barleywines.

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!  

Anyone who has hung with us in the past knows that we're pretty good at drinking beer here at ACB. And although we do have a few homebrewers on the staff, by and large we're more competent at downing pints than we are at brewing them. So when our friends at the American Homebrewers Association sent us this press release asking us to remind you about their annual Learn to Homebrew Day and suggested that even we might want to try our hand at homebrewing, we were dumbfounded and more than a little intrigued.

Hey it's Wednesday and that means it's Rumor Mill Time...The industry's buzzing about the Two Beers extreme makeover and we'll be bringing you what we know so far. Plus we've got updates from our friends at Deschutes and Hardywood as well as word from "The Last Frontier." So fasten your seat belts dudes and dudettes...THIS WEEK'S RUMOR MILL IS ON!