Madison On Tap Craft Beer Fest

There is currently a Groupon for the event which brings it back down to $35. Not the worst price I've seen, the 3 hour time window seems a bit short.

http://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-mad...campaign=79d27b12-167f-427b-883d-4f1144cd099c

 

I'd rather spend the $35 at the liquor store getting new stuff I can drink on my timeframe.

 

Agreed. It doesn't pale in comparison, but I can think of worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon.

 

My question would be: Okay brewery list, but what beers are they going to serve? If it's just standard shelf beer across the board that's a much different experience (at least for your average BA) than something like GABF or Great Taste, where breweries bring out their limited release and one-off brews.

 

Here's something that looks a little more promising, at least in terms of offering interesting beers:

Dells Rare Beer Affair​

 

Do breweries even come to these things? Aside from the GTMW, most brewfests I've been to are little more than distributors showing off their shelf offerings

 

I looked up the Madison On-Tap thing after I saw it on the sign at Alliant. I'd love to go to a brew fest, but I don't think that one's for me. Just looks like someone looking to make a buck on the "craft beer craze."
That one in the Dells looks interesting, though. Anyone have more info on that, or been there in previous years?

 

I am going to the Madison on tap thing. My brother in laws got me either a free ticket or maybe a really cheap ticket...so I figured that's okay because otherwise full price for this one might not be something I want to do. I emailed the organizers and they said that by March they will have an app available for download with all of the beers on tap that day. We'll see if that happens.

 

At least getting drunk will help hide what a pit the Heidel House is

 

Has anyone seen anything from any brewers about special releases at this event today?

 

Avoid the whole "on tap" road show. It was basically a crowded bar with an above average beer selection. A lot of breweries but this company basically picked up X# of cases of beer per brewery and paid people to pour them. I would guess 10-15 breweries actually had their staff working the event. Very few beers I couldn't easily get elsewhere. The highlight was probably Chillwave since it hasn't hit my local bottle shop.

The guy working Tyranena's booth describing Rocky's Revenge vs. Three Beaches, the only other beer they brought: "I don't know the style. It's just darker and heavier than the other one."

So basically - if you want to be around a few thousand other people drinking ~200 shelf beers, this is your event.

 

This is completely accurate, I was at the Madison on tap event yesterday. A few of the local breweries did send real brewery representatives, breweries such as Rush River, Hop Garden, The Vintage and Lakefront. For the most part though it seemed to be people with no knowledge of the beers they were pouring and no real interest in beer. If you're a more casual craft beer fan you might find it interesting but for those of us who might be considered "beer geeks" you can pass on these events.