As the title insinuates, I recently got a new computer, which means I need to revisit all the beer news websites & get them set-up in my web browser bookmarks again. What better opportunity to do a news rundown?

I think it’s fair to say that 2017’s creation of the Independent Craft Beer seal from the craft beer trade group Brewers Association was a rousing success, as the Association points to higher spending and more frequent visits to craft breweries sporting the seal. Now, the Association is taking the campaign a step further with the Independent Craft Beer Supporter seal. The seal can be used by any business, organization, or website that supports the craft beer industry. Seems simple enough. Anyone wanting to use the seal simply needs to sign a licensing agreement (which can be found at the second link).

The folks at Vinepair sure love their lists—right now, apparently, they think you need to know 13 things about Coors Light—but this time, we’re checking out a piece of beer history. Vinepair recently posted what would seem to be the first ever photograph of people drinking beer. The photo was seemingly taken in Scotland in 1844, just 18 years after the first photo was taken.

I was far from entering the craft beer internet community in 2008—in fact, I was barely a craft beer drinker at all! One of the “craft beers” I DID often drink was Newcastle Brown. Only in researching this Six-Pack did I learn that in 2008 Newcastle was acquired by…Heineken. Oh, well. Anyway, after moving the Newcastle brewing operations from the United Kingdom to Holland in 2017, a more drastic step is being taken. Lagunitas Brewing, based in California but also part of the Heineken family, will now be responsible for “reimagining” and brewing Newcastle. The new Newcastle will make its debut new March. As a long-time Newcastle drinker, expect a detailed review! (credit: Food & Wine)

The Harry Potter book and movie series both continue to be freakishly popular, and seeing as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was originally published in the U.K. in 1997 (and in ‘98 as Sorcerer’s Stone), all those original Potter fans HAD to grow up! But they probably STILL love Harry Potter! What to do? The Wizards and Witches Beer Festival, coming to a city near you! (Food & Wine)

It seems like this should have happened years ago, but Stone Brewing has collaborated with legendary metal band Metallica on Enter Night Pilsner. Beer Street Journal has more.

It’s a little bit old-news now, but Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, recently purchased their first-ever brewing, San Francisco-based Sufferfest Beer Company. Details from the Brew Studs website.