Your guide to Great Taste of the Midwest 2010 eve pre-parties and beer tastings

The 24th annual .

This year over 120 breweries will bring their products, making it the largest number appearing yet at the Great Taste. There figures to be an estimated 750 different beers offered over the festival's five hours.

Now, if you are not one of those with a ticket, the next best thing is the night before. Actually, the Friday evening pre-events have evolved over the years to something like a festival on their own. Perhaps, for those who don't enjoy crowds and standing in lines at the various tents, the pre-parties are even better than the actual Saturday tasting frenzy.

This year, nearly 20 pre-event parties will offer an impressive beer list of their own. Many of the Madison restaurants and taverns hosting them are providing food specials and a chance to talk with the brewmasters and brewery staff.

Parties on the eve of the Great Taste include:

• Alchemy
  Starting at 2 p.m.
  
  • with seatings at 5 and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 10; tickets are $30.


• Barriques Coffee Trader
  Starting at 7 p.m.
  
  • Hinterland Brewery of Green Bay, Wisconsin: Brewmaster Joe Karls will be serving his popular wheat made with Door County cherries. Featuring: Amber Ale, Bourbon Barrel Scottish Ale, Amber Ale, Cherry Wheat, Luna Stout, and Pale Ale.


• Brasserie V
  Starting at 5 p.m.
  
  • of Dexter, Michigan: Bam Bière (farmhouse ale) and Weizen Bam Bière (farmhouse wheat ale).


• Brickhouse BBQ
  Starting at 6 p.m.
  
  Peruvian Morning Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout, Illumination Double IPA. Co-owner and brewmaster Anello Mollica will be on hand.
• on Thursday, August 12; this six-course meal is $60/person.


• The Coopers Tavern
  Starting at 7 p.m.
  
  • Dexter's Pub
    Starting at 9 p.m.
    
    • of Frederick, Maryland: Tire Bite Golden Ale, Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, 20th Anniversary Raging Bitch (Belgian IPA), two other taps to be determined.
      Dexter's is expected to pull out a few special kegs of other brews that have been held back for just the occasion.
  
  
  • of Potosi, Wisconsin: Potosi Belgium Wit, Potosi Grandy Dancer Porter, Gold Old Potosi, Bourbon Barrel Potosi Scotch Ale, Snake Hollow India Pale Ale (served in bottles). Brewmaster Steve Buszka pours from 7-11 p.m.


• Francesca's al Lago
  Starting at 5 p.m.
  
  • Glass Nickel Pizza-Atwood
    Starting at 6 p.m.
    
    • The Haze Asian + American BBQ
      Starting at 6 p.m.
      
      • Jordan's Big 10 Pub
        Starting at 9 p.m.
        
        • New Belgium Brewing of Fort Collins, Colorado: Eric's Ale (dry, sour beer aged in oak combined with semi-sweet higher-alcohol base beer, named for longtime brewer Eric Salazar), Berlinerweiss (imperial Berliner Weisse), Hoptober (golden ale), Ranger India Pale Ale. Brewery representatives are expected to attend.
      
      
      • King and Mane
        Starting at 4 p.m.
        
        • 
          Starting at 2 p.m.
          
        
        
        • The Malt House
          Starting at 7 p.m.
          
          • Picnic Ants (farmhouse ale), Black Scotch Ale, Dominator Doppelbock, Bourbon Barrel Night Train, Hog Whoppin 7% IPA. Founder and brewmaster Marc Buttera pours from 7-11 p.m.
        
        
        • The Mason Lounge
          Staring at 4 p.m.
          
          • Natt Spil
            Starting at 3 p.m.
            
            • Coon Rock Cream Ale, Tommy's Porter, Warped Speed Scotch Ale, and perhaps some Louie's Reserve Scotch Ale.
          
          
          • The Old Fashioned
            Starting at 5 p.m.
            
            • of Wilson, Wisconsin: Owner and brewmaster Dave Anderson will likely be bringing his BrewFarm Select (golden lager) and Matacabras (strong ale).
            • Additionally, manager Jen DeBolt is on the road this week acquiring more beers to add to the restaurant's all-Wisconsin tap lineup for the event.
          
          
          • Vintage Brewing Company
            Starting at 5:30 p.m.
            
            • of Spring Green, Wisconsin: Proper (English ale), Knot Stock (pale ale brewed with cracked black pepper), Oscura (coffee-infused Mexican dark lager), Three Feet Deep (Irish stout brewed with peated malt), Fatty Boombalaty (Belgian ale), Thermo Refur (made with red beets), Makeweight (triple pale ale). Brewmaster Aran Maddan will be in attendance.
            • The brewpub will also be hosting a special tasting featuring the beers of locations.
          
          

          Times for the specific brewery servings may vary, so it is wise to call ahead to find out when a particular beer might be available. These pre-Great Taste events are actually scattered throughout the city, but downtown Madison has a number of them, all within short walks of each other. And just as importantly, the proximity to parking ramps and public transportation makes for a great evening.

          More details about these pre-parties can be found in guides published by Madison Beer Review and Beer Buffalo Lodge. The guide to the festival itself.