Madison’s 38th annual Great Taste of the Midwest craft beer festival will return Saturday, Aug. 9, WMTV15 reports.
The event — the largest craft beer festival in the U.S. run by volunteers — draws thousands of visitors each year and will take place at Olin Park from 1-6 p.m.
A new law has presented an obstacle to the festival’s operation this year. It requires breweries to pay a $1,250 fee to distribute in Wisconsin, creating a pay wall for breweries that plan to participate in the one-day event but don’t already distribute in the state.
The permit is effective for two years, but many out-of-state breweries do not have imminent plans to sell in Wisconsin outside of the festival. The issue affects smaller, independent breweries in particular.
All told, 60 breweries backed out of the festival, but 40 signed on to participate.
