I have never
been to the Great Taste of the Midwest. For those that are unfamiliar, the
Great Taste is one of the largest, and frequently referred to as one the best,
beer festivals in 1,000 miles. On one day each year brewers from around the
country gather at Olin Park in Madison, Wisconsin to permit festival goers to
taste their best selections. With over 500 beers available for tasting, the
Great Taste offers one of the most comprehensive beer tasting experiences
around and has developed a reputation as a standout event in the beer
community. As a result, it is increasingly more difficult to get tickets to the
event, which usually requires staking out a place in line up to 10 hours before
they go on sale each spring. Despite these challenging circumstances, this year a stroke
of luck and some help of some really great friends permitted me to get my hands
on a ticket to the Great Taste for the first time. As a result, I set aside the
afternoon to celebrate three months of my “I have never...” experience the best
way possible, with some incredible beer and a crowd of amazing people.
I will start
this story by saying this blog entry won’t be long. Over the years people have
told me the Great Taste of the Midwest experience was so incredible it was hard
to describe. While I usually would dismiss such remarks in the past, I can say
now I totally get it. The experience of the surroundings, the people, the beer,
and the memories is hard to describe in a way that would make sense to anyone that has never had attended the event.
Stated plainly, I’ve never been among a more jubilant and accessible crowd of
people. From the brewers to the first-time attendees, we were all there to
revel in a unique experience and to take away what memories we could from a
beautiful summer celebration of life and beer. We spent five hours in a
perpetual state of bliss. It was more than I could have ever expected.
The entrance |
The crowd |
Sure, part
of my amazing experience was due to the fact that I tagged along with some
Great Taste veterans and beer experts, Nils, Anders, and Dan, that guided me to
the best spots at the best times, and for that I’m grateful. That stated, I
know I would have been equally delighted by the experience had I simply
wandered the grounds, randomly talked to people, and sampled the beers I
happened upon along the way. From the moment I took my place in the massive
line outside the grounds to the sound of final call for the festival closing I
was among likeminded and like-spirited people from all over the country. No one
needed to say it, but we all knew; for that time at the Great Taste life was
grand, and we intended to make the best of every moment.
Once the
festival drew to a close, I found my way to Rachael, who graciously offered to
be my designated driver on the ride home. The entire length of the drive home I
gushed about the event and the amazing beers I was able to experience. I told
her about Nils guiding me to special releases of rare imperial stouts, sours,
and artisan beers. I did my best to explain the complex flavors of the Three
Floyds Dark Lord stout, the Side Project Blueberry Flanders, and the Toppling
Goliath Morning Delight (which is the best beer I have ever tasted... EVER.). I
tried to walk her through the setup of the grounds, which contained props, a
temporary skate park, a silent disco party, and a mock “mad scientist”
laboratory. Perhaps it was my state of mind, but I struggled to find the words
to put the whole experience in order. I just couldn’t do it. The Great Taste of
the Midwest is just one of those things a person needs to see firsthand
to truly understand the experience. As a result, I knew I wasn’t going to make
the attempt to walk through the whole experience here either. Instead, I’ll
just simply state anyone that loves beer, relaxation, and awesome people needs
to make The Great Taste of the Midwest a priority. There is a reason people wait hours in line for tickets, and
I can now say, without question, they are justified in their actions.
Hurray! :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it. Sorry I was all over the place!
You were awesome! All of us were all over the place!
DeleteThanks for helping me make this possible! I couldn't have done it without you. :)