If you live in the Midwest or plan on visiting Madison, Wisconsin during the middle of August (the 14th to be exact) then you want to be sure to check out the Great Taste of the Midwest, a micro-brew fest where you will meet about 5,000 or so of the friendliest beer lovers anywhere.
This event is all about meeting lots of new people and trying new brews that they would not find at home. What starts out as a stranger sitting next to you comparing notes on the different brews you have tried may just end up being your best friend; or at least someone to catch up with at the next festival.
The festival takes place on the hillside next to Lake Monona in Olin Turville Park and the summer air, warm sun and gorgeous water view just seems to make the beer taste better. There are several big tents that house booths containing almost 160 Midwestern brew pubs and microbreweries that provide three ounce offerings of their best creations. The price of admission is $35.00 and tends to sell out in a hurry.
If you ask most of the festival goers exactly what is the best part they will likely have a difficult time deciding if it is the first taste of a new and exciting brew hitting their tongue or the look on the face of the brewers when they see someone enjoying the fruits of their labors. While others think the best part is being around all of those like-minded people that really know a great brew when they taste one.
