FAQs

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What is craft beer?

A: A craft brewer is small, independent and traditional.

Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less. Beer production is attributed to a brewer according to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Flavored malt beverages are not considered beer for purposes of this definition.

Independent: Less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member who is not themselves a craft brewer.

Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor.

Breweries and beers that do not meet these criteria will not be included in Madison Craft Beer Week. Blue Moon, Shock Top and Batch 19 don't count! We know we are being hypocrites, but because we are in the state of Wisconsin, for our purposes Leinenkugel's and Goose Island will count as "craft" (until further notice).

Q: Why isn't my favorite brewery participating? This thing is lame if my favorite brewery isn't participating.

A: MCBW does not seek participation. If your favorite brewery isn't participating it's because they either did not know of the event (unlikely, since we work very closely with all of the Madison-area beer distributors) or, more likely, because they chose not to participate. Please encourage your favorite breweries to participate to make this week as exciting as possible!

Q: Do I pay you (Madison Craft Beer Week) for the events?

A: No. Please contact the individual venues with any questions regarding their events and to purchase tickets or make reservations.

Q: I'm a bar/liquor store/brewery owner: how do I participate?

A: If you are interested in hosting Craft Beer Week events, please go here for more information.