1. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale ($50,426,000)
2. Samuel Adams Seasonal ($50,000,300)
3. Samuel Adams Boston Lager ($47,286,900)
4. New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale ($32,149,700)
5. Shiner Bock ($20,892,900)
6. Samuel Adams Variety Pack ($18,751,600)
7. Widmer Hefeweizen ($17,246,800)
8. Samuel Adams Light ($16,691,000)
9. Sierra Nevada Seasonal ($14,711,400)
10. Redhook Long Hammer IPA ($10,053,800)
11. Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale ($9,116,500)
12. Pyramid Haywire ($8,776,300)
13. New Belgium Seasonal ($8,604,000)
14. Redhook ESB ($8,393,300)
15. Alaskan Amber ($6,428,400)

I think it’s pretty interesting … don’t you? Of all the craft beer sales in the US, Samuel Adams/Boston Beer Company is absolutely destroying everyone else, with $132,728,900. Whoa. I also think it’s interesting that Redhook’s IPA is the only IPA on the list. And I’ve never even heard of Widmer Hefeweizen…

Thoughts, anyone?

The video reminds me of what I love about beer: the community and connection the craft naturally eminates between men and women brewers and aficionados all over the world. I think this video does a good job demonstrating that through a diverse set of individuals. Voices, faces, and environments. Thanks to Stone for a great video.

Dear Brewing Companies,

I’ll give you some free advice: advertise to me at the mall. Trust me; it’ll work.

Love,

An unidentified customer

I like beers AND I also like shopping. A lot. Here’s the interesting relationship for me, beer and shopping are positively correlated. Beer at lunch means more shopping in the afternoon, and more shopping in the afternoon means more beer at dinner. Everyone wins (if “everyone” is the beer and retail industry, and not my checking account!).

Fact: America’s Historic Roundhouse microbrewery (formerly Walter Payton’s Roundhouse) is 5.8 miles from the Chicago Premium Outlet mall in Aurora. I know this because when I go to one, I go to the other. And I am betting there are more people out there like me. Plus as an added benefit, mall advertisers also have the attention of the unwilling shopping companion a.k.a. the husband, boyfriend, or poor guy stuck in the friend zone.

Imagine this scenario: girlfriend is in her eighth shoe store. Boyfriend is on a bench, crying on the inside. Suddenly boyfriend has a genius idea: as payback for 5 hours of “shoe hunting”, girlfriend will let him choose the dinner location, and he’ll pick the microbrewery he just discovered. Girlfriend doesn’t mind because her feet hurt from walking the mall all day (hence the need for new shoes). In fact, maybe girlfriend will enjoy a celebratory brew herself. She deserves it after she worked so hard to find all those amazing sale items!

Clearly a market exists for advertisers to reach the weekend shopper. What other advertising opportunities could the beer industry embrace?

Trust A Bartender: Always a good idea to ask the bartender, but be prepared to answer some questions. If you can narrow the field down, the tender will be ready with a recommendation and 9 times out of 10, I’ve been happy with the barman/woman’s expert opinion. As soon as I mentioned IPA at Quenchers, the kind bartender suggested Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, and I am thankful because, as Nate reviewed, this is a top rate IPA.

Trust An Advertiser: This option is FAR less likely to land you a tasty brew. However, I am always still happy I tried. Call me a sucker, but give me a multi-million dollar ad campaign, and I’ll try it. Case in point: Heineken Light (don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me…. remember?) And at the very least, next time I see yet another Bud Light Wheat commercial I can share my own opinion instead of always wondering.

Try them all: This does not work in places like Quenchers with hundreds of choices unless you have a superhuman tolerance or a years worth of time. However, next time you’re at a microbrewery let me emphatically suggest a sampling platter. Samplers offer a few ounces of each beer the microbrewery is currently offering. If this is an option somewhere, you can bet I’m trying all the brewery has to offer!

Be Random: Sometimes it just doesn’t matter. Be vain and choose based on looks. Be immature and pick the funny name. Just try something. This isn’t a long term commitment, it’s just one beer at a bar, or maybe a 6-pack from the store.

Consult a Chart: Okay there’s no explanation here, I just think this flowchart is funny.

Consult a Friend: After my Dogfish IPA at Quenchers, I decided to try one more. At the recommendation of a few friends I moved on to the Delirium Tremens on tap. Again another brilliant choice, I am lucky to have friends who steer me right. However, I will note that if your friends cannot be relied upon to make decent recommendations, you can always check out our top rated beers. We’re friends too, right?

Time to chime in: what other criteria can be used when you are faced with too many beer choices?