Favorites, flavors, and highlights from the Great Taste of the Midwest 2008 in Madison

For Midwestern and even international beer enthusiasts, the second Saturday in August is a day marked on the calendar that you protect as a sacred holiday. The Great Taste of the Midwest is held annually at Olin Park on this day, which this year was on August 9.

Only 5,000 tickets are offered by the sponsoring

With 120 breweries and more than 500 beers, picking up a favorite is not an easy task. By no means are these the "best of the best" brews, but here are a few of the highlights from the 22nd annual Great Taste.

Over the Top:
Dankenstein from

Homebrewer's Delight:
Mongers Old Ale from

of Galesburg and Kalamazoo, Michigan
Rich copper color and a resiny bitterness that left hops lovers in bitter-nirvana. For many at the Great Taste, hops made for interesting wardrobe accessories like hat bands and crowns.

Just a Great Refreshing Beer for a Saturday in the Park:
Coriander & Orange from the

of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
A light bodied, unfiltered Munich Helles that offers firm and crisp hoppiness.

A Favorite You Look For:
Autumnal Fire from of Plover
A spicy, fruity Belgian-style Saison with brilliant light golden color and some warmth from the 7% alcohol by volume. What's a beer picnic in the park without ants?

A Real Ale and Cask Conditioned Brew with Memorable Impressions:
Dragon's Milk Oak Barrel Ale from of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Dutch for Red herring with a sharp fruity flavor, yet a smooth texture. This brew is aged for a year before it's blended with a newer batch and then served.

Just a Great Beer Name:
Liverator from of Warren, Michigan
A dark and heavy Scotch Ale and winner in the 2004 World Beer Cup. This beer's name underscored what appears to be the favored attire of many attendees.

Most Unappealing Name Yet Still a Great Beer:
Scurvy from of Flossmoor, Illinois
A Belgian-style India Pale Ale aged in Woodford Reserve Bourbon Barrels for eight months. This is great beer to pair with slice of Fetalicious from Madison's own Glass Nickel Pizza, which was one of the several food vendors on hand for the event.

Best Non-Beer Discovery of the Day:
Barn Swallow and Red Poll Cranapple Ciders from of Arena
"This is like a trade show," he says, "we get to see what others are making and hear from the folks who like our beer."

First Time Attending as Brewer:
Marc Buttera, brewmaster at

Most Appropriate T-shirt of the Day:
"I like beer."
'Nuff said.

Beer Nomads:
James and Joan Trolinger of Alabama
These first time Great Taste attendees' shirts were covered in beer labels from breweries nationwide. "We can't get the good stuff at home," says James. "We go everywhere else in the country for good beer, so we had to come here."

Beer lovers and curious quaffers would do well to mark their calendars for next year, as the Great Taste of the Midwest 2009 will return on Saturday, August 8, with tickets going on sale on Sunday, May 3. The crowds will be thick and the brews will be flowing. One bicyclist riding past Olin Park on the John Nolen bike path asked her companion on Saturday: "What are we missing?" If they had waited for a reply, I'm sure someone in line would have shouted, "A beer festival like no other!"