I'm a huge fan of the Brewers Association - Charlie Papazian's non-profit trade org - and they recently posted the Top 50 Breweries of 2011. The list is based on sales volume from small and craft US breweries. An interesting note from the read:

In the last 15 years, craft brewing has gone from one percent of the overall beer market to almost six percent in 2011,” said Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association. “We attribute a large part of that growth to the many talented brewers who are providing beer lovers with more beer style and flavor choices than ever before.

It's interesting to look at this and see that Boston Beer Co (Sam Adams) makes the top of the list, as well as top five for overall breweries. Other beer afficianados may snub their nose at Sam Adams, but I try not to forget that Boston Beer Co more or less sparked the US craft beer revolution. I often consider Sam Adams a gateway beer to the craft beer world - it is safe, approachable, but often more flavorful and different than the 3 or 4 fizzy yellow products on tap; and of course they were one of the first in the early 80's to stray from the light lager trends. Plus, Sam Adams has their periodic special releases that are often quite good. So I raise a glass to Boston Beer Company and take this moment to recognize their well-earned spot as the #1 American craft brewery.

Summer is long gone, but my memories of Maine could never fade as fast. As August came to close, my wife and I embarked on an epic journey across the great Pine Tree State - from Newry and Lovell to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, to Bangor, then south through Portland and on to Boston (yes I know Boston's not in Maine) - never did the great state disappoint.

Hailing from the metro-sprawl of New York, inundated by the modern "conveniences" of fast-paced, over-saturated living, I too-often take for granted the value of simplicity. Small business, sustainability, neighborly ways, and plain ol' peace & quiet go a long way in many of the towns we visited.

Now... before I get too warm & fuzzy on you, keep one thing in mind: many of these same values contribute to one of my favorite things about Maine: tons of local beer. It seems everywhere we went I had no problem finding something local or pseudo-local on tap. Better yet, when I wasn't drinking local beer, I was drinking great beer. 

The map above helps outline the trip a bit - where these places are located, where our journey took us. Use the map to find links and locations for each of the below. 

creepy little heads on the wall

While dining at the Jolly Drayman Pub in Bethel, Maine this evening my wife and I couldn't help but look up and notice that the walls were lined with these creepy little ceramic heads. This was a small, dimly lit dining area off in a side room, in a pub laid out much like an early 1900's home. Despite all the crazy crap on the wall, none was crazier than these smiley, smug little buggers looking down on us as we patiently waited for our meals.

This, of course, begs the question: where do you get creepy ceramic heads these days, anyway? I wasn't aware there was even a market for such a thing. Moreover, is this a lucrative business? For folks looking to shuffle their investments, should we look to creepy ceramic heads for diversification? Creepy ceramic heads for birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs, holidays, anniversaries, for breakfast? Are we all doomed? Nonsense!

I know why you're here... more hi-rez creepy ceramic heads after the jump. 

Moreover, the country has a devout passion for beer and is even home to a group of extreme enthusiasts - CAMRA - whom would have you believe that the processed and filtered "crap" we serve from stainless steel tanks has no right to be called "beer". Personal views aside, the point is that these people take their product seriously, and I had the pleasure of experiencing first-hand what London has to offer.