The Annual Pilgrimage to Madison

Great Taste of the Midwest| August 9, 2014 – Olin Park,  Madison, Wisconsin

Great Taste of the Midwest| August 9, 2014 – Olin Park, Madison, Wisconsin

It’s hard to top what happens every August in Madison, Wisconsin. The second largest city in the state is home to what many consider to be the event of the year – The Great Taste of the Midwest.

 A series of pre-parties collectively known as Great Taste Eve start as early as the Tuesday before the Saturday affair. The ritual for us always includes staying all weekend. First order of business after crossing The Curtain was a trip to one of the most iconic breweries in country.

New Glarus
New Glarus Brewery sits on a hillside 30 miles south of the festival grounds. The $21M facility is their 2nd brewery. The original location still exists just down the road. For the most part it’s used as a cellar to age their roster of world-class fruit beers. 

On one of my tours as host of the Chicago Brew Bus there were New Glarus brewers in attendance. The gents mentioned that 2% of all Wisconsin beers sold are New Glarus beers. And that they’re on pace to become the only craft brewer in the country to sell 200,000 barrels annually…all in 1 state. 

The Chalet-style architecture of the brewery is a theme many businesses in the town of New Glarus have adopted. The current production plant is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Located in the courtyard between the taproom and the gift shop is what has to be the greatest drinking water dispenser of all time. 

On the interior resides four copper-jacketed kettles, Stairway To Heaven where all the open fermentation takes place, and a remarkable collection of awards from the past 21 years.

four 100bbl copper clad fermenters at New Glarus Brewery

four 100bbl copper clad fermenters at New Glarus


first order of business on an trip up to Madison is this iconic brewery

first order of business en route to Madison is a trip to this iconic brewery


the greatest drinking water dispenser of all time resides in the courtyard

the greatest drinking water dispenser of all time resides in the courtyard


the hillside outdoor drinking pavillion

the hillside outdoor drinking pavilion

 

Yokel- Zwickelbier

Yokel- Zwickelbier

Great Taste of the Midwest 2014
This event started near a small dock near on the other side of Lake Monona 28 years ago.Here’s the breakdown of the 160 breweries in attendance by state. Wisconsin (69) Illinois (30) Michigan (15) Indiana (13) Minnesota & Missouri (12) Iowa (7) Ohio (3). Illinois Brewers – Off Color, Temperance, One Trick Pony, Pipeworks, DryHop, Penrose and Une Annee all made their debut this year. There were over 50 breweries on the waiting list.

Dark Horse Brewing Co. Marshall, MI

Dark Horse Brewing Co. Marshall, MI


20 musical acts spread across fest grounds

20 musical acts spread across fest grounds


photo 5 (5)

Mama Digdown’s Brass Band

photo 3 (7)photo 4 (8)

I spent much of my day getting a copy of Anna Blessing’s instant classic – Locally Brewed signed. 18 of the 20 breweries featured in the book were in attendance.
Took a nice amount of time at Olin Park catching up with a crew I always enjoy, Argus Brewing from Pullman, Chicago. Head Brewer, Byron Moore along with Brewmaster and proud Wisconsinite, Grant Johnston.  After reminding me rather passionately that I was in Packer Country, we discussed Grant’s 17 medal winning entries at the Great American Beer Festival, along with the evolution Great Taste over the years. “Nik, make no mistake about it.” he tells me, “This is the finest festival in all of America.”

We couldn’t agree more.

–Nkosi

 

a 2014 highlight for me was getting brewmasters to sign my copy of Locally Brewed

a 2014 highlight for me was getting brewmasters to sign my copy of Locally Brewed


Schlafly, STL

Schlafly, STL


Sunlight Cream Ale, Sun King Brewery, Indianapolis


Toppling Goliath Brewing, Decorah, IA

Toppling Goliath Brewing, Decorah, IA


  @sandwichluver!  Titletown Brewing, Green Bay, Wi

my man @sandwichluver Titletown Brewing, Green Bay, Wi

 

the New Holland booth was an RIP Harold Ramis tribute with a theme from Caddyshack

the New Holland booth was an RIP Harold Ramis tribute with a theme from Caddyshack


..yes with the groundhog

..yes with the groundhog


2014 workshirts

2014 workshirts


the award for 'Special Tapping That Made People Completely Lose Their Shit' goes to New Glarus Very Sour Peach poured by Dan Carey...in Lederhosen

the award for ‘Special Tapping That Made People Completely Lose Their Shit’ goes to New Glarus Very Sour Peach poured by Dan Carey…in Lederhosen


Capital Brewing

Capital Brewing

 

Goose Island crushed per usual..including a Bourbon Country prison theme and beer cocktail expo..

Goose Island at booth #704 with a  Bourbon Country prison..


..and prisoners

..and prisoners

 

..and recreating the a concert from The Blue Brothers movie

..and recreating a concert from The Blue Brothers movie


..and strawberry Sofie cocktails!

..and strawberry Sofie cocktails!


..and Brand Ambassadors

..and Brand Ambassadors


Founders, Grand Rapids, MI

Founders, Grand Rapids, MI


the view of Lake Monona from Olin Park

the view of Lake Monona from Olin Park


post-fest.. Backpocket Brewing, Coralville, IA

nkosio

Beverage Consultant, Co-Host of the Chicago Beer Pass Podcast, The Neat Pour Podcast, Co-Founder and heartbeat of the Chicago Beer Geeks..@nkosio on twitter

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