overall selection of beer, and the best bourbon barrel beers I've ever had." Tickets to the Great Taste of the Midwest are always tough to acquire. They go on sale every first Sunday in May at a handful of locations, and lines start forming the night before. There's also a mail lottery for those who don't want to give up some sleep to purchase a ticket in person. Due in part to ticket scarcity, pre-parties held around Madison in advance of the festival are becoming increasing popular. The Great Taste pre-parties in 2012 were spread throughout Madison's downtown and east side, with over 40 different venues offering special tastings and celebrations, some even serving beers that were not available at the festival itself. Here are a few of my memories from Madison's biggest beer weekend of the year. Friday: Drackenberg's Cigar Bar Nate Peck, brewmaster at Sand Creek Brewing (of Black River Falls, Wisconsin) opened up a special version of Double Oscar's Oatmeal Stout that had aged for over six months in a white port barrel from Wollersheim Winery. Friday, second stop: Forequarter This new Tenney neighborhood restaurant offered a crowded but ideal setting to pair a meat plate with beer from O'so Brewing (of Plover, Wisconsin). Brewmaster Marc Buttera offered a number of special beers just for the event, a few of which were not available at the Great Taste. Tastes from the Great Taste Biggest Beer with Flavor, Not Just Strength The Bruiser from Dave's BrewFarm of Wilson,