For years, the Dugg and I have been relishing the Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison, WI. This event is a virtual mecca of craft beer; proven by the fact that tickets sell out within minutes. If you haven't at least tried to attend this festival, please do crawl out from under that rock and join us next year.

Once again the struts on our Subaru were put the test. 10 cornie kegs of beer, the Craftsman jockey box, the Dugg and Jason trundled off to Madison early on Friday morning, August 8th.

After off-loading our gear at Olin Park, we all climbed into the MetroMobile and headed off to the Friday night parties.

We were soon to learn the main difference between attending the fest as patrons and attending the fest as vendors. As vendors, you show up earlier, and hungover.

This point was not at all lost on the kind folks at Brewers Supply Group, who drove by all of the booths on Saturday morning dispensing spicy, yummy Bloody Marys.

Our medicated and happy staff was ready to rock well before the grinning patrons were let through the gates.

The Dugg, the tap, the beer. The stuff of legend.

Photo by Jason Beaumont

Photo by Jason Beaumont

Photo by Jason Beaumont

We drank sample after sample after sample.

Jen schools a happy craft beer lover on just exactly how Metro rolls.

Behold! Official Metrovangelists Paul and Klavs.

We never get tired of hanging out with Steve and Sean of the Drinking and Writing Brewery.

The Pints played outside our tent later in the afternoon. Yar!!

Here you can see Steve and Sean thoroughly enjoying the Irish tunes belted out from The Pints. Steve reported sore (face) cheeks from grinning so hard.

As always, the droves of craft beer lovers are what makes any craft beer fest a blast. Even though the tents were crowded and a little steamy, enthusiastic friendliness abounded.

Mark your calendars, folks. We'll see you all at Olin Park on August 8, 2009!