BrianMSTL

2nd Shift Cask Festival - 2020 January 19th, 2020 2nd Shift Brewing Company Cask Festival With something going on nearly every weekend, it's hard for St. Louis beer-lovers to get bored during the winter months. For example, this past weekend, I attended my second beer festival of 2020, and it is likely one of my favorites.  On Sunday, 2nd Shift Brewing Company held its annual Cask Festival, which brings together a number of their closest friends and some fantastic small-batch beer. For those that are unfamiliar, Cask Festival is a smaller beer festival where 2nd Shift invites their friends to bring small cask just for the festival. During this event, you will likely find variations on existing beers brewed with unique new ingredients or a brand new beer brewed just for the festival; either way, you are in for some exceptional beer choices. One unique thing with this festival is that it allows each attendee a unique opportunity to pour their beer; while sampling...

Madison, WI - August 10, 2019 2018 was my first year attending the Great Taste of the Midwest, and I have to say it was quite an experience that no craft beer lover should miss. For those that are not familiar, Great Taste of the Midwest is the second longest-running craft beer festival in North America. GTMW brings together over 190 brewers in a scenic location overlooking Lake Monona while providing some great views of downtown Madison and the state capital. Ticket sales can be challenging, as they are typically released the Sunday after Cinco De Mayo at select locations in Madison, however, if you do not happen to live in or near Madison you can enter their mail order lottery for tickets. Should you be lucky enough to secure tickets, you will encounter a massive selection of craft beer, great food, and fun entertainment. One of the best things about GTMW is that despite the size the festival never felt like it was too busy, lines were tolerable, and I never seemed to wait more ...