It’s almost that time! One of the most wonderful weekends of the year. That’s right, this coming weekend is the Great Taste Of The Midwest 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. Here’s what you need to know to prepare.
Great Taste Of The Midwest 2018
The Great Taste Of The Midwest is heading into its 32nd year on Saturday, August 11th, 2018. Once again, over 190 breweries and more than 1,400 beers will be pouring at Olin Park, overlooking Lake Monona in Madison.
Not only is the Great Taste one oldest beer festivals in the US, it’s also the best. These folks have beer festing down to a science. The festival is spread out and tickets are limited to 6,000, so there’s rarely much of a line anywhere you look. Location and the brewery lineup are top quality too. It’s really everything a beer festival should be.
Attendees are well taken care of. With water stations all over the event, there’s no reason not to rinse your glass and hydrate. It gets hot out there and you’re drinking all day. Please drink plenty of water so you can keep going and really enjoy your time.
No car or bike parking at the event. The Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild want everyone to have a fun and safe time, so no one needs to drive afterwards. Instead, they provide $1 taxi rides to anywhere in town (except bars) with your festival wrist band. There are also free shuttles to and from the event at a dozen local spots around the city. They make it easy to get there, have a good time, and get back safe.
Beer fans come from all over to attend this phenomenal fest, but it’s not just the main event that makes for such an awesome weekend (although it would be all on its own). The other festivities are well worth the visit, even if you can’t get your hands on a coveted ticket.
Great Taste Eve
Friday before the fest has come to be know as Great Taste Eve. All over Madison, you’ll find fantastic beer events. Breweries take over numerous spots around town, and amazing offerings are tapped to get things going before the festival the following day.
Check out this list of Great Taste Eve events on the Great Taste website. Have an awesome time the night before, just be sure to get to bed at a decent time and don’t over-imbibe. You want to be in great shape to really enjoy the main event on Saturday afternoon.
I also highly recommend checking out the Dan Country Farmers Market before the festival on Saturday. Wrapping around the capitol square in the middle of town, it’s the largest producer-only farmers market in America. Filled with all kinds of great goodies, the hot & spicy cheese bread from Stella’s is a great base before a day of drinking. Also be sure to stock up on plenty of cheese to bring home from the numerous vendors around the square.
Enjoy The Event
The Great Taste Of The Midwest 2018, and the weekend festivities around the event, are sure to be an amazing time. Wonderful beer, in a great location, run by the very best in the beer fest business, plus plenty of other happenings around Madison throughout the weekend.
Be sure to check out the program (available on the event website and mobile app) and keep checking the Great Taste Eve events page, as it’s updated often.
It’s sure to be a wonderful weekend filled with beer, friends, and the Great Taste of The Midwest 2018 fest.