OK. So I am on holiday and what am I doing on holiday writing on the beer blog. My car has a flat, that's what. Got a flat in the driveway so it's in the shop and I am waiting.

Portland Maine is one of the best places to buy beer if convenience, selection and quality is the thing you are after - and not only at great bars like Gritty McDuff's. Because Mainers are rightly proud of their many local producers and actually turn that pride into purchasing support, there are loads of places to find a decent selection. Above right and below are shots from Downtown Beverages on Commercial Street: beer, wine, hootch and stogies. There was an excellent selection of locals as well as Belgians and other exotics. RSVP Liquors is another favorite specialty store which I may try to get to for a moment or two...unless another clamcake on a bun distracts me.

Downtown Beverages is a specialty shop but good beer can be found in corner stores and grocery shops as well. Below are some shots from an organic grocery, Wild Oats, that had an amazing selection including a couple of Butte Creek's ales from Chico California. I have been working on a six of their porter this week which I will post a note on if I don't decide to go to the beach, eat more seafood and just lay around instead.

Portland is also a home to brewers like Allagash and Shipyard. Below are a few shots from the public end of Shipyard Brewing which is on the waterfront by the north end of Commerical Street. I have written about a couple of their beers before and I keep coming back to them. There is a salty tang to Shipyard's brews that sets them apart for me. Their bottles are pretty well everywhere here and even make it as far west as Galeville. Even though I bought the t-shirts and the glass, I may still go on a tour to get some photos of the open square fermenters used by Shipyard...but then again there is that laying around the beach thing I have to explore a bit more on this holiday.

So take comfort if you are ever stranded in Portland Maine. There is plenty of good beer will help you through.