Madison is ascending as a destination city for craft beer enthusiasts, a status that's affirmed the second week of every August when it plays host to the Great Taste of the Midwest and a growing host of satellite celebrations. 

The 28th annual festival will be held at Olin Park on Saturday, August 9.  Organized by the Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild, it's a wildly popular gathering that draws attendees from around the United States.  This year, there will be more than 1,000 beers served by upwards of 160 breweries from around the Midwest.  Tickets are sold out within hours of being made available. 

For beer enthusiasts who don't have a ticket, or those who simply want to make their revelries a multi-day affair, the phenomenon of the Great Taste pre-parties is most welcome.  Dozens of these events are held throughout Madison, most on the night before the festival, making for a sustained celebration that is growing as beer fandom does. 

Great Taste Eve, as it's known, has been blossoming at a rapid rate of the last five year, paralleling the growth spurt in the craft beer industry.  Just under 20 venues hosted parties in 2010, a number that jumped to above two dozen in 2011 and leaped to nearly 40 in 2012 and more than 60 in 2013.  This year, the number of parties is inching even higher, and more are being held throughout the entire week preceding the festival.  These celebrations are held at breweries, brewpubs, taverns and restaurants, and feature special tappings of many limited release beers.  Brewery staff, many in town for the Great Taste itself, are a fixture at many of these events. 

"It's very humbling to see how popular this event has become over the years," says Mark Garthwaite, chairman of the Great Taste and the new executive director of the Wisconsin Brewers Guild. " I know the people who organize this thing and pour their heart and soul into it are gratified to see that it's highly regarded," he notes. 

There is an exciting bounty of Great Taste pre-parties, and to help craft beer fans navigate all of the options, we have compiled a list of dates, locations, starting time and participating breweries.  These listings also include beer menus and other details where possible to provide an expansive guide to the festivities. 

Be sure to check back for updates on the pre-parties as additional information will be added to this list as events get scheduled up until the Great Taste itself.  Most parties are scheduled for Friday, August 8. 

Parties coinciding with the Great Taste of the Midwest include:

All week

Great Dane Pub

All day

Great Dane-Downtown: For Great Taste week, the original Dane is serving a lineup of beer that includes its Belgian Wit, Belgian Quadruple (a.k.a. " The Beast"), Tri-Pepper Pilsner, Hop Circus Wheat, Across the Pond Strong Pale Ale, and cask-conditioned Cascade Mountain Porter.  Great Dane-Fitchburg: Though it's available at each Dane, the Fitchburg location is highlighting Coppertun (amber saison), the new bomber-bottle release from the brewpub.  Great Dane-Hilldale: The west-side Dane plans to tap its Country Road Farmhouse Ale and Tangerine Dream (dopple hefeweizen bock), as well as a kölsch, a Munich dunkel, and an American red.  Great Dane-East: A kölsch and an American red are also slated for the Great Taste week menu at this Dane. 

All day

Merchant

All day

Ale Asylum of Madison, Wisconsin: Celebrations will run all week long with this tap takeover as the downtown Madison restaurant serves as a Great Taste home base for the north-side brewery.  There will be eight Ale Asylum beers served on a rotating basis on the bar's five taps.  Look for Hopalicious (American pale ale), Bedlam!,  Unshadowed (a hefeweizen formerly called Hatha-weizen), Big Slick Stout (oatmeal stout), and Tripel Nova (Belgian-style tripel), along with specialty releases from the brewery's Limited Asylum series, including Demento (session pale ale) and Pantheon (imperial brown ale).  Merchant is also planning to offer a special beer cocktail menu to mark the festivities.  An "Industry Launch Party" will kick things off Sunday night at 9 p.m.

Sunday, August 3

Hydro Street Brewing Company

Starting at 9 a.m.

Hydro Street Brewing Company of Columbus, Wisconsin: The brewpub is a sponsor of the third annual Arts and Ales Festival, an outdoor celebration held in front of the historic Columbus City Hall.  Running all day, the party features live music, arts and crafts vendors, taps from a half-dozen craft breweries, and a homebrewers contest.  Judging in this competition begins at noon, and the winner of the "People's Choice" award will get to brew their creation with Hydro Street co-owner and brewmaster Aaron Adams for release at the brewpub. 



Monday, August 4

The Tipsy Cow

Starting at 5 p.m.

Avery Brewing Company of Boulder, Colorado: At the beginning of the year, this Front Range brewery fully reentered the Wisconsin market after a hiatus of several years.  Though it's not a participant in the Great Taste, Avery is joining the pre-party scene with this early week tap takeover.  Avery India Pale Ale, Lilikoi Kepolo (witbier made with passion fruit), Summer's Day IPA (made with tangerine), and Avery Anniversary Ale-Twenty One (imperial India brown ale) are all on the menu, as is Hog Heaven (barleywine), the first release in the brewery's "Holy Trinity of Ales." 



Tuesday, August 5

Brocach Irish Pub-Monroe Street

Starting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, August 4 and running through Saturday, August 9

O'so Brewing of Plover, Wisconsin: Warm-up for the Great Taste begins early at the west-side Brocach, which is hosting a week-long tap takeover.  The menu will feature Temi (English mild ale), Indonesian Coffee Train (Night Train porter brewed with coffee), Hop Whoopin' (American IPA), Rusty Red Nitro (American red ale, served on nitrogen tap), Spike's Maple Ale (American strong ale brewed with maple sap), Holy Wa (Belgian-style golden strong ale), and Funky Lady (barrel-aged lactose sweet stout). 

Starting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, August 4 and running through Saturday, August 9 O'so Brewing of Plover, Wisconsin: Warm-up for the Great Taste begins early at the west-side Brocach, which is hosting a week-long tap takeover.  The menu will feature Temi (English mild ale), Indonesian Coffee Train (Night Train porter brewed with coffee), Hop Whoopin' (American IPA), Rusty Red Nitro (American red ale, served on nitrogen tap), Spike's Maple Ale (American strong ale brewed with maple sap), Holy Wa (Belgian-style golden strong ale), and Funky Lady (barrel-aged lactose sweet stout). 

Dexter's Pub

Certified beer experts will have their mettle tested at Cicerone Smackdown II, which challenges brewery reps, distributors and customers to test their skills at this second annual blind tasting celebration. " Industry professionals with Level 2 certification will get to choose the beer on tap and whatever they want to put in the hop rocket," says owner Nick Zabel, who will also join in the competition.  Customers can buy flights of sample pours until 8 p.m., but the beers will be labeled with numbers only.  Single pours will be offered at 8 p.m., with winners announced after the votes are counted at 10 p.m.

Wednesday, August 6

Thursday, August 7

Friday, August 8

Saturday, August 9

Dexter's Pub

Starting at 9 a.m.

The big day starts bright and early at Dexter's, which is once again serving a special pre-Great Taste breakfast before running a bus to the festival. 

Starting at 9 a.m. The big day starts bright and early at Dexter's, which is once again serving a special pre-Great Taste breakfast before running a bus to the festival. 

Gray's Tied House

Starting at noon

The brewpub is operating a free shuttle to and from Olin Park on the afternoon of the Great Taste.  The first trip departs the Verona brewpub at noon, and the service will run continuously until its final departure from the festival grounds at 6:30 p.m.

Starting at noon The brewpub is operating a free shuttle to and from Olin Park on the afternoon of the Great Taste.  The first trip departs the Verona brewpub at noon, and the service will run continuously until its final departure from the festival grounds at 6:30 p.m.

Metcalfe's Market-Hilldale

Starting at 2 p.m.

The Hop Garden of Belleville, Wisconsin: This ten-acre hop yard at the northern edge of Green County offers a line of beers produced at the House of Brews in Madison.  Three will be served at this sampling in the grocery store's beer department: Local Harvest Pale Ale, Bushel Basket IPA, and Nuggetopia, which is an IPA made exclusively with Nugget hops. 

Starting at 2 p.m. The Hop Garden of Belleville, Wisconsin: This ten-acre hop yard at the northern edge of Green County offers a line of beers produced at the House of Brews in Madison.  Three will be served at this sampling in the grocery store's beer department: Local Harvest Pale Ale, Bushel Basket IPA, and Nuggetopia, which is an IPA made exclusively with Nugget hops. 

Tempest

Starting at 10 a.m.

Wisconsin Brewing Company of Verona, Wisconsin: Four different dishes of hearty brunch fare will be served at this Great Taste morning pairing breakfast.  The menu options are: rhubarb raspberry waffles, paired with Zenith (saison); shrimp, scallop and grits, paired with Amber Lager; lobster mac and cheese, paired with Imperial Pale Pale Bock (or I.P.P.B), a dry hopped golden ale and new release from the Verona brewery; and, steak and eggs, paired with Porter Joe (with Barrique's coffee).  Prices vary based on the dish ordered. 

Starting at 10 a.m. Wisconsin Brewing Company of Verona, Wisconsin: Four different dishes of hearty brunch fare will be served at this Great Taste morning pairing breakfast.  The menu options are: rhubarb raspberry waffles, paired with Zenith (saison); shrimp, scallop and grits, paired with Amber Lager; lobster mac and cheese, paired with Imperial Pale Pale Bock (or I.P.P.B), a dry hopped golden ale and new release from the Verona brewery; and, steak and eggs, paired with Porter Joe (with Barrique's coffee).  Prices vary based on the dish ordered.  Tex Tubb's Taco Palace

Starting at 4 p.m.

As the Great Taste starts winding down, this east-side taco joint will re-release a pair of Mexico-themed collaboration brews created for this past spring's edition of Madison Craft Beer Week.  The first is a quarter barrel of Saison de Cilantroctus, a farmhouse ale made in collaboration with MobCraft.  The other is 50 liters of Enrique Sucio, a mezcal barrel-aged imperial IPA made with House of Brews.  They're offered for those craft beer fans who couldn't get tickets to the festival, as well as "for those who can still stand after the Great Taste is done," says bar manager Will Mueller.  Both beers are first-come, first-served. 

Starting at 4 p.m. As the Great Taste starts winding down, this east-side taco joint will re-release a pair of Mexico-themed collaboration brews created for this past spring's edition of Madison Craft Beer Week.  The first is a quarter barrel of Saison de Cilantroctus, a farmhouse ale made in collaboration with MobCraft.  The other is 50 liters of Enrique Sucio, a mezcal barrel-aged imperial IPA made with House of Brews.  They're offered for those craft beer fans who couldn't get tickets to the festival, as well as "for those who can still stand after the Great Taste is done," says bar manager Will Mueller.  Both beers are first-come, first-served. 

Vintage Brewing Company

Starting at 10:30 a.m.

Several pre-Great Taste lunch specials are to be served at the west-side brewpub, with some portable options for thos in a rush.  A shuttle will also be running to the big event, with the first leaving at noon. 

Sunday, August 10

Blue Moon Bar and Grill

Starting at 9 a.m.

New Holand Brewing of Holland, Michigan: Revelers looking to refuel the morning after the Great Taste will find a hangover-oriented brunch at this near west side tavern.  The menu features breakfast burritos along with biscuits and gravy, along with special tappings of White Hatter (Belgian IPA), Pilgrim's Dole (wheatwine), and Dragon's Milk Reserve (a bourbon barrel stout made with chiles that is also known as "Smaug's Breath").  Several beer cocktails will also be served for those seeking a change of pace. 

Starting at 9 a.m. New Holand Brewing of Holland, Michigan: Revelers looking to refuel the morning after the Great Taste will find a hangover-oriented brunch at this near west side tavern.  The menu features breakfast burritos along with biscuits and gravy, along with special tappings of White Hatter (Belgian IPA), Pilgrim's Dole (wheatwine), and Dragon's Milk Reserve (a bourbon barrel stout made with chiles that is also known as "Smaug's Breath").  Several beer cocktails will also be served for those seeking a change of pace. 

Great Dane Pub

10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

The Great Dane-Fitchburg and Great Dane-Hilldale will both offer all-you-can-eat post-Great Taste brunch buffets, while the Great Dane-Downtown and Great Dane-East will serve a la carte brunch menus. 

This guide will be updated with more information about these and other Great Taste of the Midwest pre-parties as more information becomes available.  If you are with a brewery, distributor, tavern or restaurant, and your event is not included here, or if you have more details to share, please send an email with that information. 

Specific pre-party times and menus may vary, so it is a good idea to call ahead and find out what beers will be served and when they might be available.  Many of the pre-parties are centered around the Capitol Square in downtown Madison, all within short walks of one another, but others are scattered throughout the city and in neighboring communities.  The Hop Head Beer Tour free shuttle, public transportation and taxis are a safe and sensible option for a great evening.