Great Taste of Midwest

I have seen a few posts on their Facebook page offering tickets for sale. Other people have said that it's not too difficult to get them day-of or night before in Madison.

One other big thing... Great Taste only has paper tickets. If someone offers to sell you tix and email them to you, it's a scammer. And there are a lot of them out there.

 

I have been able to get multiple tickets day of the event. Get to park early and shouldn't be a problem. Early being an hour or so before start.

 

I agree with @ddskos, I have been able to get multiple tickets day of and even cheaper than cost if you wait until gates open. That was pre-pandemic, but assuming they still deal with paper tickets, you shouldn’t have a problem. They reserve plenty for local bars/breweries to give out as promotions, so I’ve seen multiple people with handfuls trying to unload cheap.

 

I saw the ticket sale method on the very day that they had to be postmarked by. I did not have the time or patience to jump through such an archaic level of hoops, despite really wanting to go particularly being one of the only festivals I haven't been to.

 

I just sent it by the pigeon, no problem.

 

Also, regarding these day of tickets, is this all basically referring to scalpers? Would hate to drive or fly all that way just to get scammed, shafted or completely miss out. What's so difficult about doing online tickets these days? Almost all the attending breweries use online sales or ticket solutions themselves.

 

The fest is run by the Madison Homebrewers & Tasters Guild & they've stated in the past that they were "a club & not a professional organization" to paraphrase. They do a marvelous job running a magnificent festival, so I'm not going to get worked up about the old-school ticket sales...even though they've bitten me in the ass once or twice.

 

Don't fix what isn't broken?! They're clearly content using the two methods for ticket sale(s).

 

I actually like the process. It's quirky and different. I like the suspense of seeing if my check is cashed. And if my odds increase because others aren't willing to jump through those hoops... then that much better.

 

Do people who mail ahead actually get shut out? Particularly in state senders???

 

I've mailed ahead and been shut out. But to be fair, this is first year I've won by mail. I echo the just show up early plan. I've gotten tix day of fest 5 times

 

The local (original?) good beer bar sponsored a bus trip to the Great Taste a few years back, got on the list right away.

Can't remember the cost, but it included the bus ride up & back (Northeast Ill to Madison), lunch from their kitchen, and a half barrel on the bus for the trips.

I can't recall how they got the tix, but I think all of the employees mailed in for the lottery. Bus was full.

Just checked their social media and can't find out if they still do it.

 

Were you posting on message boards to look for someone to meet up with to buy their tickets, or just hoping someone is standing outside the gates?

 

I am by no means endorsing scalpers, but being out of state, I rarely had luck with the mail in tickets. Typically I had a local friend get a couple and by the time we planned the trip we’d have 3-4 people going. And it was easy to just by extras day of. Most of the promo tickets would just go to waste at that point, so I had no problem dropping $20 a pop if needed. Never had any issues getting extras, but again that was pre-pandemic.

 

Looks like they did it in 2019 -- was that the last year for the Great Taste pre-pandemic?

 

I don't really have a problem with scalpers either, per se, just trying to get some idea of where this might be happening. Literally people just standing around outside like any other sporting event?

 

Every year in the past you could go the day before the fest and actually get to try most of the top brews that will be at the fest the next day. All the bars and breweries have a pre event but my recollection is funk factory having the best one. Go the day before the fest… I went a few years in a row and never went to fest but was offered tickets every year. If you can’t score tickets… you can at least try a ton of great brews at the pre events. Lucille’s is normally the CW spot and that place is always fun. It used to be that the TG pre event was the first preview of that years batch Mornin Delight (they typically have their own event at a local bar too) and years ago they had SR-71 there. GL!

 

A few times chatted people at pre-taste events who gladly offered me. And 2x showed up an hour early and there were people selling tix at face value

 

Yup, plenty of people walking around in the field in front of the gates offering them up.