Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison, WI

The question: What was your favorite craft beer experience of the summer?

That’s easy for me. It’s always the Great Taste of the Midwest up in Madison. The weather was perfect this year, everyone is having a good time, and it’s a very welcoming, well-laid out event. Plus, you get to try a variety of beers you don’t get everywhere, especially down in Normal.

— John Lawrence, co-owner of White Oak Brewing in Normal

For the first time this summer, my wife and I were on a quest to collect stamps in our Drink Illinois summer passport. We visited a lot of our favorites, but I had the opportunity to introduce her to a number of breweries I had enjoyed during Crafty Brewers’ tapings like Sturdy Shelter, Brother Chimp and BubbleHouse. We also visited some places I had never been to before like Lunar Brewing, Penrose and Stockholm’s. Next summer, I think I’ll rent a van and a driver and fill my passport with stamps and my belly with beer.

— Brian Noonan, host of the Crafty Brewers podcast

Sturdy Shelter’s new patio in Batavia

My favorite experience was going to the Skeleton Key’s 10-year “Skelebration” in August. My wife and I loved being there because we enjoyed the beer, the atmosphere and the energy.

I had two of the new beers being tapped that weekend. One was Recon Mission, which was a collaborative beer made with the Skullmuggery Society and a fantastic light lager that was extremely refreshing with the hot weather. The second was Decennial Gufo, another hazy IPA in the Gufo series that, like all other Gufos, did not disappoint.

The atmosphere was very fun as well. Balloon animals, temporary tattoos, art and a variety of food trucks. From the average beer drinker to the families enjoying the aforementioned food and activities, it was a very fun place to be.

— A.J. Pearson

My favorite experience was going to the Skeleton Key’s 10-year “Skelebration” in August. … From the average beer drinker to the families enjoying the food and activities, it was a very fun place to be.

The best beer experience is the one I can share with my whole family, including my two young kids. It’s partly about the beer of course, but these days it’s way more about the vibes and finding a great space where we all have things to explore. Food for everyone is a must. There’s great examples of this all over the country, but the place that I visited most recently that hit all the important notes was the Tucson Hop Shop in Tucson, AZ. It had a great tap list, good people, pizza every night and awesome kid-friendly vibes.

— Joel Hatlin, head brewer at Mickey Finn’s Brewery

My favorite beer festival experience was at the Park Ridge Market after Dark, which happens on three Saturdays throughout the summer. Lots of good craft beer vendors there, and some of the my favorites like Revolution and 93 Octane. With beautiful weather and plenty of good food trucks, it’s an absolute treasure of a time in Park Ridge.

— Lane Plummer

Reserve Artisan Ales

It’s held on the cusp of summer (usually in April), but Reserve Artisan Ales’ G-ALES-Burg Beer Fest is an incredible event. Lots of downstate brewers, great food choices, and it’s held indoors in case the weather is inclement. All the brewers bring something outside of the normal festival beers, plus it’s a great fundraiser and not “oversold” like so many others. It’s close enough to the Chicagoland area to make it a day trip, or you can spend the night and explore the area. I highly recommend it. I’ve been going for three years now, and it continues to grow in popularity and the number of brewers attending.

— John Bittermann

Milk Money Brewing’s Summerfest in La Grange is hands-down one of our favorite beer experiences of the summer. Great local beer (check out their Vibrant hazy IPA), live music, fresh food and the kind of community atmosphere that makes you love summer in La Grange. A perfect celebration of craft beer and our amazing local brewery scene.

— Kait Van Cleave

Half Acre Beer Co. patio in Chicago

My absolute favorite brewery is Half Acre Beer Co. in Chicago, especially in the summer on the patio. They have virtually zero misses, if you ask me.

And my favorite beer fest is always the Great Taste of the Midwest. My wife and I cut our honeymoon in Jamaica short so that we could get back in time for the Great Taste years ago, and our friends have all learned to never get married the second weekend of August if they want us to attend.

— Michael Heldebrandt, Blind Pig Brewing in Champaign

My wife and I cut our honeymoon in Jamaica short so that we could get back in time for the Great Taste of the Midwest years ago, and our friends have all learned to never get married the second weekend of August if they want us to attend.

Riverlands Brewing Company’s Kamoho Days, a three-day festival in late July, was best of the summer for us. All the variants were excellent, with great food trucks and a friendly staff. The live music on the big outdoor patio was an added plus.

— Steve Overton

My neighbors and I love hitting the free Thursday-night Rockin’ in the Park summer concert series in Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park, with some pretty amazing fireworks afterward. Sitting on lawn chairs with friends on a warm summer night, listening to great cover bands and sipping fresh beer from nearby Crust Brewing — it doesn’t get much better than that.

—  Peter Dykas

Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park free Thursday concerts