The Great Taste of the Midwest - 39th Edition - Festival Organizers

Oct 3, 2026

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The Great Taste of the Midwest welcomes attendees to Olin Park on Lake Monona for its 39th volunteer-run festival. A message from the president highlights year-round preparation and the thousands of volunteer hours behind the event. The organizers’ work supports guild activities and charitable giving, including efforts addressing food and housing insecurity, social justice, and substance abuse prevention and recovery. Attendees are encouraged to enjoy beer styles, talk with brewers, and discover breweries.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages57

Reading Time1 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

Welcome and Message

Volunteer Effort and Impact

2026 Festival Organizers

GREAT TASTE of the MIDWEST GET THE APP MAKE A PLAN FROM THE PRESIDENT WELCOME to the 39th edition of the Great Taste of the Midwest! Thank you for joining us at beautiful Olin Park on the shores of Lake Monona. We like to think of Olin Park as the home of the Great Taste, and every second Saturday in August we’re delighted to welcome brewers, volunteers, and beer lovers back home. Whether you’ve traveled across town or across the Midwest, we’re thrilled you’re here to celebrate the craftsmanship, innovation, and welcoming spirit that make Midwest brewing so special. The Great Taste of the Midwest is a 100% volunteer-run event. While today’s festival may seem effortless, it represents thousands of hours of work throughout the year. From months of preparation to the countless details that come together on festival day, hundreds of Guild members and friends contribute their time and talents to make Great Taste possible. If you see a volunteer today, please take a moment to thank them. Proceeds from today’s festival help support our guild activities and our charitable giving program. Each year, we donate to local organizations that address food and housing insecurity, social justice, and substance abuse prevention and recovery. Every Great Taste has its own character, but one thing never changes: the opportunity to gather with friends old and new to celebrate great beer and the people who make it. Whether you’re revisiting longtime favorites or discovering breweries for the very first time, we hope today’s festival creates memories that bring you back every year. Now go out and enjoy the magic that is the Great Taste of the Midwest! Whether this is your first festival or your thirty-ninth, I encourage you to try a beer style you’ve never experienced, aska brewer about the inspiration behind a favorite beer or how it was made, and discover a brewery you’ll be eager to visit again. Behind every pour is a story, a passion for the craft, and people who are excited to share it with you. Prost! Lee Jones President, Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild 2026 FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS THE GREAT TASTE OF THE MIDWEST is masterfully orchestrated by the dedicated individuals listed below. As always, they are tobe congratulated for their accomplishments. ORGANIZER | YEARS OF SERVICE | POSITION Mark Alfred | 24 | Assitant to the GT Chairman Eric Anders | 2 | Social Media Lead Steve Andrusz | 31 | Tent Signs Bryan Antoniuk | 3 | Volunteer Floater Wrangler and Headquarters Nick Balazs | 11 | Festival Layout Deedric Bauer | 9 | Collaboration Station Stefan Berggren | 23 | Ticket Production Andrew Bernstein | 14 | Cooling & Hydration Specialist/Site Mechanic Carol Bracewell | 22 | Master Cartographer/Graphic Arts Advisor Tom Brown | 22 | Port-a-Potty Patriarch and Friday Set-Up Duane Buscher | 9 | Keg Check-In Brandi Cameron | 2 | Friday Night Pot Luck Cheri Carr | 19 | Team Lead Emeritus Scott Clippinger | 17 | Team Lead Emeritus Colin Crowley | 6 | Cellarman/Police Liasion Aide de Camp Dylan Cutter Smith | 1 | Front Gate-Assistant Fabricio De Souza | 3 | Wristbanding Dan Deveney | 3 | Signage Jordan Doll | 4 | Keeper of the Gate Bob Drousth | 39 | Chairman Bob-Emeritus; Purchasing Joe Farnsworth | 9 | God of Lightning Thomas Franklin | 2 | Safety and Neighborhood Liaison Mark Garthwaite | 27 | Chairman Emeritus Jennifer Gottwald | 12 | Merchandise Sales Assistant Dan Gustafson | 18 | Off-Site Parking Laura Hall | 4 | Ticket Processing Bob Harvey | 17 | Recycling and Garbage Dan Hillstead | 3 | Brewer Check In Les Hoffman | 24 | Team Lead Emeritus Patrick Hutton | 16 | Team Lead-Emeritus Sam Jackson | 12 | Safety and Neighborhood Liaison Bruce Janus | 1 | Collaboration Station Chris Janus | 1 | Asst Data Wrangler Pete Johnson | 15 | There’s an App for That Lee Jones | 9 | MHTG President, Ticket Fulfillment Jeremy Kaukl | 8 | Safety Compliance Guru Tony Ketterer | 6 | On-Site Tra

FAQs

What is the Great Taste of the Midwest, and where is it held?

It is a volunteer-run beer festival held at Olin Park on the shores of Lake Monona.

How is the festival supported and why does it require volunteers?

The event relies on thousands of hours of work throughout the year, coordinated by guild members and friends.

What do the festival proceeds support?

Proceeds support guild activities and a charitable giving program addressing food and housing insecurity, social justice, and substance abuse prevention and recovery.

Oct 3, 2026

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