From: x1rbrown@exnet.iastate.edu (Roger Brown)
Subject: Great Taste review
Reply-To: x1rbrown@exnet.iastate.edu
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH.
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 92 22:33:19 GMT

Here's are a few impressions of the Great Taste of the Midwest event 
last weekend in Madison, WI. 

Public attendance seemed better than last year. The event is held in a 
small park, two block South of the State Capital complex overlooking the 
lake. Beautiful location, good parking, easy to find. The gate opened at 
noon plus a minute or two (some brewers were madly scrambling to set up 
their tables), and was wall to wall happy beer drinkers by 12:30. I 
recognized a crowd from the Chicago area...lots of brewery t-shirts, 
etc. There seemed to be some knowledgeable beer drinkers on hand. BTW, 
the event is hosted by Madison homebrewers, beer stores, etc.

The $12 entrance fee gave attendees a small glass with a Great Taste of 
the Midwest logo, chunks of bread and unlimited tastings. Great Taste 
and brewery t-shirts are for sale along with homebrew things, glasses, 
etc.

Most of the "advertised" breweries made it this year. That included 
several regionals (Leinenkugel (with Leinies and Miller Reserve), and 
Schell (Octoberfest, etc), micros including Sprecher (Randy hisself with 
his regular brews plus Hefe), Kalamazoo (Larry Bell hisself with his new 
and mild "Solsun Ale", Cherry Stout, etc), Summit (with their summer 
"sparkling ale" and toasty porter, Boulevard (they plan a Christmas beer 
for 1993 but are working hard now just to keep up with demand,) Fox 
Classic (Houdini Lager), Pavichevich (great draft Baderbrau), Chicago, 
Lakefront (my favorite Midwest micro, soon to have their Ale in bottles) 
and of course Capital (with now bottled Octoberfest). Also, contract 
brewed Cherryland and Midcoast who's Chief Oshkosh (a red/amber lager, 
nice and malty) is brewed by Midcoast at Point. Brewpubs included 
Appleton (Amber, Dark and Weiss) (I think), Broad Ripple (from 
Indianapolis with an IPA and their super ESB), Goose Island (a number of 
styles), Brewmasters Pub (with a "honey lager" they described as a 
Weiss, VERY nice), Water Street (several styles) and Joe's Brewery. The 
latter is perhaps the least exciting (read: worst)brewpub in the Midwest 
(in Champagne, IL.) They brought a dark and a light...both were ok and 
the guys were having a great time! Finally, a new micro: Detroit and 
Mackinac Brewing from Detroit. Nine weeks old, with 3 top fermented ales 
(suffering slightly from new-ness). They sell kegs only in a few spots 
around the Detroit metro area but plan to bottle this fall. They brew in 
a 9 barrel system. They were young, proud (the brewery was planned for 4 
years) and enthusiastic.

If I had to choose a favorite...and with so many beers available and 
wall-to-wall people...I'd go with all the beers from Appleton. Nice 
people and GREAT beer!! I need to head up there soon! 

This is a really fun event...and Madison is a great town. I would 
encourage anyone to attend next year!  Browse at the huge farmers market 
a block away or in the book stores and shops on State Street, then 
wander to the park at noon for some good times and great beer.

      



-- 
Dan Brown		"All that is past is prologue"
brown@ins.cwru.edu
"If two years isn't enough time, why would five minutes be?" Chester Ramey.
Newsgroups: alt.beer