When a perfect summer day is imagined, most Madisonians would picture festivals with exotic foods, beverages and fine arts. Madison, thanks to its unique assortment of exquisite dining and robust libations, will always have a flair for hard-to-miss ceremonies. From aged cheeses and beer tastings, to live music and arts galore, life during a summer in Madison is bound to be filled with sun-kissed, exciting events.

Among the diverse options of fests, Great Taste of the Midwest holds the spotlight as one of the biggest beer tasting events of the summer. Each year the event is planned on the day known historically to have the best weather of all summer. From 11 different states, over 160 local and regional, micro and craft breweries set up decorated and interactive displays to bring their best concoctions to the lips of thousands of beer enthusiasts. Wisconsin’s establishments equaled to be almost a third of all participant businesses.

If the copious amounts of specialty brews aren’t enough of an intrigue, the festival also featured local food vendors, fresh brewed coffee, live music and merchandise. Festival booths and tents could win an honored award, categories ranging from Aged Favorites to Best Beer and Food Combo, presenting a draw beyond just attracting a new customer with a delicious, thirst quenching beer.

Tickets for the event were sold at a market price of $60, which included an exclusive Great Taste 2014 tasting glass. The designs for the glasses are changed each year, and offer to be a beer themed collector item.

The Great Taste of the Midwest festivities have built a following of versatile devotees. To Madison, and Wisconsin as a whole, craft beers are a way of life and are savored responsibly. To ensure the safety of all fest attendees, a free shuttle was sponsored by local craft establishments and ran round trips from the festival grounds to numerous locations around the Madison area, including Ale Asylum, Vintage Brewing, and the Weary Traveler.

Fellow beer nerds and brewers alike have gathered over the last 20 years to celebrate, taste, and enjoy some of the finest creations and connect over a passion many may not value as a complex science. Local favorites such as Wisconsin Brewing Co., Tyranena, Ale Asylum and plenty more plan for months for this annual event to demonstrate their devotion to the craft as well as respect and understanding of each others artistic expertise within the community.