The Great Taste of the Midwest is celebrating its 25th anniversary special anniversary. The annual event in Madison is believed to be the second longest-running craft beer festival in North America. What started as a humble gathering a single room has ballooned into a massive festival with 124 breweries this year offering more than 500 beers.
Tickets are only available through pre-sale which opened up in May. “We sold 6,000 tickets. It took us about an hour, hour-and-a-half to sell out,” says Festival Chairman Bill Rogers.
The event is organized by the non-profit Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild with proceeds going to other non-profits and local groups.
Although the Great Taste is Saturday more than 24 local taverns are participating in preparties, which began Thursday and go tonight, showcasing brews and holding beer tastings.
