It has become a tradition for some visiting breweries to partner with local establishments to showcase their excellent beers. Even if you missed out on Great Taste tickets, you’ll still be able to find many opportunities to sample some special beers all around Madison. Some of these events even feature breweries that are not able to join us at the Great Taste. Look below for a list of events!
If you’d like to submit an event, please go here.
Garth's Collab and Meet the Brewers from Old Irving Brewing
August 8, 2024 @ 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Garth's Brew Bar - Madison, WI
Come meet the brewers behind Old Irving Brewing (OIB) We are known best for the Great American Beer Fest (GABF) & World Beer Cup (WBC) Gold Hazy; Beezer! Also come try GABF Silver winning Kölsch in Della and other amazing beers.
Old Irving & Garth's Brew Bar Collab Release Party
August 8, 2024 @ 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Garth's Brew Bar - Madison WI
Garth’s Brew Bar has teamed up with Old Irving for a Rye IPA beer along with pours of their award-winning Beezer and many other gnarly offerings.
Darkness and Donuts at Tipsy Cow
August 9, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 am Tipsy Cow - Madison, WI
Darkness and Free Greenbush Donuts in the Morning! (While Supplies Last).
Timed Tappings:
9am
2023 Darkness with Friends : Other Half (only keg ever outside of 2023 Darkness Days @ Surly Brewing Co.)
Darkness aged in Old Fitzgerald Bourbon barrels with Cloud Cover Hayissa Olocho Keramo Coffee and vanilla beans added – 12% ABV2023 Darkness with Friends : Pinthouse (only keg ever outside of 2023 Darkness Days @ Surly Brewing Co.)
Darkness aged in Henry McKenna 10-Year Bourbon barrels and Tattersall Aquavit barrels with vanilla added. – 12% ABV
2023 Nitro Coco Darkness
Aged in bourbon barrels, coconut, vanilla, and cacao, then is brewed on nitro for a rich, creamy finish – 12% ABV2016 Darkness
Our Massive Imperial Stout – 12% ABV
2023 Darkness
Our Massive Imperial Stout – 12% ABV
11AMPIzza Party
THAT’s a Knife
Australian-style Pale Ale – 6% ABV4pm
BA Darkness – 2017
Darkness Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels from Woodford Reserve – 12% ABVBA Darkness – 2024
Darkness Aged in Elijah Craig 10 and 12 year Bourbon Barrels – 12% ABVNitro Coffee Ale
Robust porter with Peace Coffee – 5.5% ABV7pm
Midnight Manhattan Darkness – 2021
Aged on cherries and orange peels in bourbon barrels – 12% ABVParkers Heritage Darkness – 2023
Aged in Parker’s Heritage 15 Year Heavy Char bourbon barrels – 12% ABVPentagram
100% Brettanomyces dark beer, fermented in stainless and aged in used red wine barrel – 7% ABV
Eagle Park Pre Great Taste AM
August 9, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 9:00 am Dexter's Pub - Madison, Wi
Beer, bacon, booze…and it all begins at 9am!
Make us your FIRST stop on the beer lover’s favorite weekend.
Enjoy specialty pours from:
Badger State
Eagle Park
Lion’s Tail
Pig Minds
With our famous pre-Taste breakfast provided by Jones Dairy Farm. (Thanks Kenny!)
Collab-A-FestA-Sava-Thon 2024
August 9, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 11:55 pm Young Blood Beer Co. - Madison, WI
Why not have a dope party with some of our fave suds buds in the Midwest the day before the Great Taste of the Midwest? 🍻
We’ll have all our collaborations on draft at our King Street location starting at noon on Friday, August 9th.
Need to Know deets RN:
🍺 No timed tapping nonsense.
We will give you all the goods simultaneously because it’s Great Taste Eve. Let’s have fun, Madison!🍺 Four Packs for all.
Collabs will be canned; you can purchase them on-site at this event.🍺 Food All Day.
We know you’ll be thirsty, but we bet you’ll be hungry too. Our King Street kitchen will also open early at noon because collabs and crunch wraps go well together.The complete list of collabs will be announced soon!
The Catalyst
August 9, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm Karben4 Brewing - Madison WI
(2) Karben4 Beer Releases:
Jackson Sourio – Fruited Sour w/ Passion Fruit, Kiwi, & Guava
Pink Peppercorn Saison (name & style)Guest Brewery Beers Available at Outdoors Booths:
608 Brewing
Oliphant Brewing
Pipeworks Brewing
Revolution Brewing
Dangerous Man Brewing
Noon Whistle Brewing
Copper State Brewing
These will be ticketed pours, ranging in barrel-aged, sours, hazy’s, and Delta-9 THC-Infused drinks.
Working Draft – Great Taste Pre-Party
August 9, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 11:00 pm Working Draft Beer Company - Madison WI
Join us for our Great Taste of the Midwest pre-party!
For this event, we teamed up with our friends at Bavarian Bierhaus to make a Lichte Weisse. This low ABV (3.0%) take on a Hefeweizen features imported Weyermann wheat and a unique step-mash technique that increases esters and aroma while keeping the beer light and refreshing. Ever had this style before??
We will also have limited tappings from Bavarian Bierhaus, as well as our 13P Czech Lager, Eis Weissenbock, Rauchdarren, and even a Barleywine. Be sure to try these limited beers while available!
More details to come!
Raised Grain Pre-Party @ DLUX
August 9, 2024 @ 1:00 pm - 10:00 pm DLUX - Madison, WI 53703
Join Raised Grain Brewing Co at DLUX for five exclusive beers and a paired burger menu.
GT Eve
August 9, 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 10:00 pm Starkweather Brewing Company - Madison, WI
Starkweather Brewing Company will release 3 new beers on 8/9!
Peach and Pancetta, sour ale infused with peaches and smoked malt. A collaboration with our new neighbors Lone Girl on East Washington
Chase for the Chupacabra; American Blond brewed with honey, aged on wood chips soaked in tequila and finished with a touch of lemon
Joy Meter High Score; Sour Raspberry IPA
Lone Girl Brewing – Madison Taproom & Pizza Co. *New Taproom Location*
August 9, 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 10:00 pm Lone Girl Taproom - Madison
Check out Madison’s newest taproom at 1817 East Washington Avenue in Madison!
We’ll be serving all of our Lone Girl Classics, including our World Beer Cup winner, Towhead. All of our beers are locally brewed nearby at our Main Street Waunakee, WI Brewpub.Schedule for the day:
2pm – Doors open
2pm – 6pm – Towhead Award Party – It’s time to celebrate our award winner. All Lone Girl classics, including Towhead will be available.
6pm – Special Release – Peaches & Pancetta Release (collaboration brew with Starkweather Brewing)Pair your craft beer with our Roman-style pizza, crafted with a custom flour blend and a 72-hour rise for a thick, light, airy crust. Hand-pressed and topped with fresh ingredients, it delivers an authentic taste of Rome in minutes. Pizza is also available for takeout.
Bierock Tap Takeover
August 9, 2024 @ 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm Bierock - Madison
Tap Takeover at Bierock! We’ll have 7 Titletown brews on tap all day and the brew and sales team will be around to hang out!
Great Taste Pre-Party with Titletown & Live Music
August 9, 2024 @ 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm Bierock - Madison, WI
Great Taste of the Midwest is almost here and so are Great Taste Eve events, including a special one at Bierock on Friday August 9 from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
We’ve got featured beer tappings from Titletown Brewing Company in Green Bay and live music on the docket.
Performing live music will be Madison’s own Jack o’ the Dust, starting at 8:00 p.m.
Jack o’ the Dust is an acoustic folk duo comprised of Andrew Doiel on guitar and Amy McNally on fiddle.
Look out for indie-rock, punk and Americana influences in their soulful originals and covers. There is no cover charge.
Meanwhile, we’ll have a tap takeover with Titletown Brewing Company.
Visitors can expect a couple flagship and seasonal offerings from Titletown along with a couple others that are typically taproom exclusives.
The beers in our lineup—along with beer styles—include…
Go for Two, Double IPA
Wild at Tart: Raspberry, Mint & Rosemary, Fruited Sour
Bent Tuba, Oktoberfest
Gridiron Glory, Mexican Lager
Crisp Creek, Watermelon Wheat
Tundra Tropics, Hazy IPA
Honey Ale, Blonde Ale w/ Local Wildflower HoneyBierock will have its full food and drink menu during the event, as well as full indoor and outdoor dining available.
So stop by for the best Great Taste Eve pre-party in town.
Located at 2911 N. Sherman Ave., Bierock is part of the Northside TownCenter and across the street from Warner Park.
Boulevard Brewing Tap Takeover
August 9, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Sardine - Madison, WI
Join us as we celebrate another year of The Great Taste of the Midwest. We’ll have several special and rare beers available.
Fireplace Oddyssey: A Pre-Great Taste Party at Garth's Brew Bar
August 9, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm Garth's Brew Bar - Madison WI
Oliphant + Vennture + Garth’s Brew Bar are throwing a rager dubbed Fireplace Oddyssey. Special brews. Special swag. Special fires and oddities.
Giant Jones Great Taste Eve Beer Garden
August 9, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm Giant Jones Brewing - Madison
It’s the night before everyone’s favorite beer fest…so we will be here to celebrate with everyone who’s in town.
Join us as we tap the latest batch of our award winning Doppelsticke Altbier for you to enjoy. And as always, we’ll have many more big beers for you to try. Ranging from historical styles, Belgian styles, German styles and many more.
We will also have our usual wine offerings from American Wine Project & sodas.
You can bring your own food OR order from our friends at The Deliciouser (or anywhere else you choose).
We’re excited to see new faces from out of towners, so stop on by!!!
*Weather permitting, our outdoor beer garden will be open!
Great Taste Eve & Oktoberfest Celebration
August 9, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Essen Haus - Madison, WI 53703
Celebrate the Great Taste Eve & Revolutionary Oktoberfest at the Madison classic Essen Haus! Featuring Revolution Brewery and Revolution Steins, join us for live outdoor music with Die Knellerknaben from 4-7; music continues inside the Essen Haus from 7-11pm with the Gary Beal Band and inside Come Back In with InFunktious from 9-12.
Point, Mr. Brews Pre-Taste Party
August 9, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Mr. Brews - Madison, WI 53717
Ciderboys, Whole Hog, and Point tastings at Mr. Brews Taphouse! Win a pair of tickets to the great taste! Brewery Reps will be in from 4PM-7PM and the drawing for tickets will be held after 7PM.
Badger State Brewing, Moxy Pre-Taste Party
August 9, 2024 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Moxy Madison Downtown - Madison, WI 53703
Win a pair of tickets to the great taste of the Midwest! Drink any Badger State Beer to get an entry! Meet Badger State Brewing from 5PM-8PM and stay after 8PM for the ticket drawing!
MKE Brewing & Eagle Park at Off Broadway Drafthouse
August 9, 2024 @ 5:00 pm - 5:00 pm Off Broadway Drafthouse - Madison, WI
MKE and Eagle Park beers and team in the evening at Off Broadway Drafthouse
The Great Taste of Madison
August 9, 2024 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Delta Beer Lab - Madison, WI
Get to know Madison’s robust and diverse brewery scene right down the road from the Great Taste of the Midwest festival grounds! Delta Beer Lab will be hosting guest beers from 10 Madison-area breweries, representing a broad range of styles and flavors for the discerning craft beer enthusiast. Meet representatives from the guest breweries, learn more about the guest beers and breweries, and buy a flight for a chance to win brewery swag! Grab a sandwich from our friends at Sandwich Hub, who will be popping up at the Delta taproom for the night.
Every year, Madison plays host to the Great Taste of the Midwest, drawing top breweries from the Midwest and craft beer lovers from around the country. We love our brewery friends from out of town, but we decided it was time to give our visitors a chance to really get to know the host city for this top-tier beer festival. Featuring breweries that won’t be at the festival on Saturday, this pre-Great Taste event concentrates on the Great Taste of Madison that we’re all so proud of. As the brewery closest to the Great Taste festival grounds, Delta Beer Lab is proud to be the perfect taproom to host our local friends for the night.
Fireplace Obyssey: I Will Eat You All
August 9, 2024 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Garth’s Brew Bar - Madison WI
Swag, special beers and general fun with Oliphant Brewing and Vennture Brewing
Wild State Cider at I/O Arcade Bar Great Taste Eve Party
August 9, 2024 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm I/O Arcade Bar - Madison, WI
Come hang out with Wild State Cider at I/O Arcade Bar for Great Taste Eve! There will be hard ciders on tap, raffle prizes, and gaming!
August Schell Brewing Company Tap Takeover @ Paradise Lounge Downtown Madison
August 9, 2024 @ 6:17 pm - 1:17 am Paradise Lounge - Madison, WI
Join the Midwest’s Oldest Family-Owned Brewery at the Paradise Lounge 119 W Main St, Madison, WI 53703 for awarding winning Lagers, prizes, and special tapping of Notorious P.I.L.S. a West Coast Pilsner!