Welcome from the President Welcome to the 22nd annual Great Taste of the Midwest! Once again, we've got an incredible selection of beers that should titillate your taste buds, and we've made several exciting changes which we hope will make your experience even more enjoyable. We've increased space by fencing in more of the park. Instead of the three large tents that we've have had for many years, there are five smaller ones, which means more brewers, shorter lines and better traffic flow. More tents also means more corners, so expect to see more creative and exciting brewer displays. Our expanded education tent this year will have more than just historical displays, but also presentations pairing beer with chocolate, pairing cheese with beer, and a presentation on cooking with beer. This is our third year for the real ale tent, which is growing again due to its amazing popularity. We'll have sixty delicious cask-conditioned beers which are served right from the firkin. If you've never tried a cask conditioned beer, be sure to stop by! Every year I learn to appreciate this event more and more. The location, the patrons, the brewers and all of the incredible beers make this a truly remarkable event that gets better year after year. Also remarkable are the dedicated members of the Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild, whose love for brewing and craft beer has made this event possible. Please take time to thank the festival organizers wearing the beige work shirts, many of whom work countless hours each year to make this event a success. One result of this success is that demand for ticket increases every year. This year, most people who were not in line before 8 am did not receive tickets, and we were only able to fulfill 25% of our mail orders. Shortly after the festival, there will be a survey on our website that will help guide us in making any changes for next year, if any, so be sure to visit our website at www.mhtg.org and give us your feedback! Finally, please enjoy yourselves responsibly and make this a non-driving event by taking advantage of the shuttles, a Metro bus, or a MHTG-subsidized taxi for one-dollar plus tip. Pace yourself, eat some food, and drink plenty of water between samplings. Prost! Eric Schoville President Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild 2008 Festival Organisers and Staff From the Editor: It takes a lot of people to present this festival, not just the All of us who put this festival together for you have a passion for hundreds of volunteers the day of the festival, but those who are beer. Part of that passion is educating people about beer, its involved with planning the event throughout the year. On our history, the different styles, and how to enjoy it responsibly as a 22st anniversary, we give special recognition to the organisers food product rather than as a drug. It’s hard to respect a beer and staff who have been involved in some capacity for at least that is marketed for having less (after)taste or body, less filling so ten years. you can drink more and more. Instead, we put on this festival so the 5,000 or so lucky ticket holders here today can learn more 15 or more years of service about what real beer is about, and to distinguish the various flavours and aromas that please them. Bob Drousth (22) -- chairmanbob Emeritus and purchasing “Little Steve” Klafka (22) -- Go-to Guy We hope to do that in a number of ways. Eric mentioned the “Tux” Tom Griffin (19) -- Dunkmaster and Lord of the Strap expanded real ale tent, food and beer pairing demos, historical Glenn Schultz (19) -- Mr. Bread exhibits, et cetera. And there’s also this book you’re holding in Bryan Bingham (18) -- Grounds, Tents & Toilets, Cabs your hands. We hope you also learn a little more about the Bob Paolino (17) -- Program Editor, Media/VIP liaison beers. We try to provide in this program book more information Mitch Gelly (17) -- City Relations about the breweries and the beer styles being served than Greg Younkin (16) -- Education and Weather Manager probably any other beer festival’s program listings. This year, Fred Swanson (15) -- Brewery Liaison I’ve made more of an effort to encourage brewers to provide Don McCreath (15) -- Brewery Assistant more information about their beers by being specific about the alcohol content, bitterness, types of ingredients, et cetera. As a 10-14 years of service consumer, you have a right to know what you’re drinking and should demand that information. If a brewer says a beer is hoppy, well, how hoppy? If it’s big, how big? You’re the one who’s going to drink it, after all; you should know what you’re “Middle Steve” Andrusz (14) Signs drinking. Take a few minutes to review the book during the “Big Steve” Ensley (12) -- Volunteer check-in and festival, ask the brewers questions, and refer to the book after the King Gambrinus Emeritus fest to remind you of some of the beers you may wish to seek Mark Garthwaite (10) -- Commander Keg out at the store or in your travels. Ted Gisske (10)-- WORT/Music Now go have a beer! ...those working on their first 10 years, and we hope many more... Bob Paolino, program editor Bill Rogers -- chairmanBill Mark Morrison --Assistant chairmanBill P.S. By no means is this book complete or flawless. If there’s Carl DuRocher -- Treasurer/Shuttles information about a brewery missing, it probably means that the Mary Ellen Rieland-- , treasurer assistant brewer didn’t email it to me. But it certainly also contains Stefan Berggren, Keith Symonds, Kate Stalker, mistakes I made that will only become obvious after it’s printed. and Tony Jacque s -- Masters of Tickets If you have suggestions for improvements or practical additions Dave Pegelow -- Vendors to the program, just send me a note at Paul Kinas, Jason Penn, Mike Sproul, Larry Walker [email protected]. And if something really Brewer load-in, check-in, and load-out bothers you about it, check the dunk tank schedule early this Bryan Koch , Jesse Swing Keg Jockey afternoon and donate a few bucks to charity by trying to throw Les Hoffman -- Real Ale Czar some tennis balls if I happen to get talked into a shift in the tank! Charley Krieger - Cellarman NOW go have a beer! Page Buchanan, Michael Ball, Mike Dereszynski Real Ale assistants Thanks... Joe Frattinger, Dan Hedtcke, Charlie Talbot, Jason Walters, and Mark Leiterman -- Front Gate, Parking, Traffic Control, * Thanks to ticket vendors who were outlets for local ticket sales Security, Safety, Fire Control, Signs as a favour to us and a convenience to their customers. Carol Bracewell -- Graphic arts Mark Alfred, Mark Schnepper -- Dunk Tank * Thanks also to the advertisers, whose support offsets part of Meg Madecky - trucking the cost of providing this book for you. Please support the Pat Propsom -- Cooling and Hydration Specialists (water in its advertisers who helped us to bring you today's festival. frozen and liquid phases) and Site Mechanic Judy Kusek - Club Headquarters and Club Mom * The printing for this program book looks so good because of Gail Propsom, Jeff Folgert, Mike Dereszynski , and Wilbur the work by Jim Mayhew at Quick Silver Press. Bingham* -- Care and Feeding of Brewers and Festival Staff Jeremy Rintz -- Webcasting * Thanks to the local and regional beer publications who are Jaquie Rice -- Advertising sales involved with the festival and provide free samples for your Tony Hazlett - Volunteers reading and fermented enlightenment. * Thanks to Randy Mosher for designing this year’s festival Vendors logo. Don’t miss our vendor tent, with historical and brewing-related * Thanks to the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin and their exhibits, good reading, and opportunities to freshen up your beer volunteers for providing attended bicycle valet parking, even if a wardrobe. little more distant from the fest this year. This service has been a huge and popular success for those who have planned ahead for Mall: car-free transportation. The sponsors of the service ask that you please let the volunteers go home on time and reclaim your bike AHA as soon as possible, and definitely before 7pm. If you feel Beverage Tasting Institute uncertain about your ability to make the whole trip home after Briess the festival, please consider taking advantage of Madison Brewers Supply Group Metro’s “Bikes on Buses” or allowing a discounted taxi to take Cargill you and your bicycle home. That also goes for anyone taking a Glasses, Mugs & Steins shuttle back to a car--consider public transportation or a cab if Great Lakes Brewing News you get back to your car and aren’t genuinely up for the drive. MicroMatic (the shuttle stops will give you easier access to more bus routes Mid Country Malt Supply than are available from the festival site). And next year, consider Mt Horeb Chamber of Commerce (selling tickets to Mt Horeb taking a bus to the shuttle pickup sites. beer festival) Wine & Hop Shop * Thanks to Bucky’s Rentals, suppliers of our tents and port-a- Yesterbeer sans, for their great service. Zymurgy Outfitters * Thanks to the City of Madison for the annual use of this ...and don’t forget our festival merchandise tent for 2008 beer beautiful park and making sure that all the necessary paperwork wear and (new this year) high quality commemorative posters. was done just right. We’ll do our best with the help of our adult and youth volunteers as always to return the park to the city in We also have food vendors to keep you nourished.