Photo courtesy Atlantic Brewing Company/James Taylor

Tour a Brewery on MDI, Town Hill, just outside Bar Harbor
Something about Thursdays just seems right for enjoying a cold brew (then again, the other six days in a summer week aren’t half-bad for it, either). If you want to see how that glass of suds came to be, then head over to the Atlantic Brewing Company on Mount Desert Island. Located on an old farm in Town Hill, just outside Bar Harbor, this brewery has been combining yeast, hops, and a bunch of other interesting ingredients into some of the best microbrews in Maine since 1991. You can purchase all of the beers, as well as the brewery’s non-alcoholic Old Soaker Root Beer, in the on-site gift shop. Even better, the brewmasters arrange for tours of the brewhouse at 2, 3, and 4 p.m. all summer long. Watching the care — and cleanliness — that it takes to transform a bunch of grains into a world-class ale will give you a whole new appreciation for the pint you down after a day of hiking in Acadia. Finally, if you decide you want some grub to go along with your brew you can pick up some seasonal specialties at the Knox Road Grille, an open-air restaurant situated right beside the brewery. What more could an ale-lover want? 207-288-2337. www.atlanticbrewing.com