Great Taste of the Midwest – A Great Festival Just Got Better With the Addition of Guggman Haus

26 Jul Great Taste of the Midwest – A Great Festival Just Got Better With the Addition of Guggman Haus

by Mark E. Lasbury for Indiana On Tap

Some indications that a craft beer festival is special: 1) You have to enter a lottery to get a ticket, 2) You have to enter a lottery for your brewery to be at the event, 3) 6000 people come from the majority of US states to taste beers from 195 breweries, 4) There are dozens of events all around town on the eve of the festival, 5) it takes place in a the rolling hills of a park that overlooks a huge lake in the middle of a vibrant downtown, and 6) it is run completely by volunteers and supports several charities.

Great Taste of the Midwest (GTMW) will take place on August 10 in Madison, WI. It’s likely that you’ve heard of it; GTMW is that famous. Walter and I make the trip each year, and we we revel in the trip north, the events around the festival, and the trip home. I sing GTMW’s praises wherever we go, including to breweries in Indiana that we feel should be a part of the event. There are a few Indiana breweries that are grandfathered in to the event by virtue of having been an original pouring entity, but we’d love to have many more there to represent the quality of Indiana craft beer to this very astute beer crowd.

image credit: Walter

GTMW is a delight for participating vendors, with volunteers storing your cold kegs overnight, then delivering them to your booth, with the organizers supplying tents that reduce the vendors’ work, with delivery of ice right to your booth, and with food provided. Once again – these are all volunteers that are organizing and manning this event! I mention all this as a way to encourage more Indiana breweries to apply to pour at GTMW.

Fortunately, the idea of more Indiana breweries participating has started to bear fruit. Guggman Haus Brewing from Indianapolis is making the trek north in August for the first time to pour at GTMW. Walter and I are delighted at the prospect for a couple of reasons. One, they make great beer, and two, now people from around the country will get a chance to try that great beer and learn about another Indiana brewery.

I asked Courtney Guggenberger a few questions about the upcoming event and their reasons for traveling 375 miles to pour their beer when there is little direct benefit to them (ie., visits to their brewpub), although I would argue that there are many indirect benefits to both Guggman Haus and Indiana craft beer in general. Here’s what she had to say:

image credit: Guggman Haus Brewing

Indiana On Tap (IOT): Does anyone with Guggman Haus have a history with the event?
Courtney Guggenberger of Guggman Haus (GH): Our lead brewer (Mike Haus) has been attending for 3 years and loves the community and festive atmosphere.

IOT: How did the idea of pouring at GTMW come about? Did someone approach you about it, or did Guggman Haus reach out to GTMW?
GH: Some festival goers and Guggman fans inquired if we were going to apply to pour at the festival. Our lead brewer (Mike Haus) also attends every year and wanted to share our beer with more people. We thought it would be a great opportunity to connect with other brewers and craft beer fans, so we decided to apply to pour.

IOT: What is the appeal of GTMW for Guggman Haus?
GH: The appeal of GTMW is simply sharing our passion for beer and community. The festival, for those who haven’t attended, is truly a gathering of like-minded individuals who love beer. The entire city of Madison becomes a beer mecca for a weekend. Sharing something we are passionate about to a larger audience is a great opportunity to expand our reach and community.

IOT: Tell me about the process of being selected to pour.
GH: Rookies are placed into a lottery, a select number are awarded a spot to pour at the festival. We were selected by lottery.

IOT: Have you received details yet on the logistics of the event? If yes, how does it work?
GH: We have not yet received detailed logistics (as of late June). We know we’re committed to beer equivalent of three half barrels, and plan to bring our jockey box setup.

IOT: How big a team will you be taking to the event?
GH: We are taking 4-6 team members. Two of our owners, and our lead brewer.

IOT: Will you be participating in any of the Great Taste Eve events?
GH: We are not doing any collabs or extra events this year.

image credit: Walter

IOT: Do you have an idea of what you will be serving at the event?
GH: A mix of beer that represents who we are and fan favorites. (New double hazy that we’re also bringing to Hops on the Hill in Louisville, an Into the Wild Sour, Guggenweizen, El Dorado Dbl Riverside, and Winner’s Milk Jug Stout).

IOT: Will you be taking merch to sell?
GH: Most likely not this year!

IOT: Any plans to look for a partner for a collab or two?
GH: None scheduled for this year’s festival, but if a connection is made, we would be open to it in the future.

IOT: Is there anything you want to mention that I didn’t ask about?
GH: We’re looking forward to connecting to more craft beer lovers and communities on more of a Midwest scale. This is our first branch out into more of a regional setting versus just here in Indianapolis. With it being such a prestigious and well-attended event, we are just looking forward to being part of it!

So – a great festival just got better. The event will send out a program in the coming week, and we’ll be able to get a glimpse of all the first time breweries, the returning breweries, and the beers they will be pouring. Guggman Haus is in good company, and elevates the festival just that much more. Think about entering the lottery next year for a ticket or as an Indiana brewery looking to pour – it’s worth it.