Lake Country's tapping 177 "Audacious" beers

This weekend, Lake Country Rotary and Rotary International are orchestrating something "Audacious" at Nixon Park in Hartland.

The third annual "Audacious Beer Celebration" taps 177 handpicked brews for a weekend of specialty tasting and celebrating.

The celebration boasts 177 beers in 57 styles from 93 breweries worldwide. Attendees will find local favorites from New Glarus, Ale Asylum and Capital Brewery as well as award-winning beers from regional and international breweries like Stone Brewing Co., Unibroue and Mikkeller. With 93 breweries represented, the opportunity for authentic sampling goes on and on.

"We travel to purchase some of the beers from the brewery as they disappear the day they are released. We work hard to purchase beers not found in Wisconsin as well as select beers commercially available from your beer retailer. The annual list becomes our way of throwing it out there and saying we are sincere about the quality of our event," Festival Director Mike Brown says.

The two-day event starts Friday with 14 taps pouring a mixed selection of light and dark "audacious" beers. Complimented by live music and the Hartland fireworks show, you can purchase a four drink tap ticket packet ($18 in advance or $20 day of) and enjoy the festival from 6 to 11 p.m.

On Saturday, the festival starts up again at 2 p.m. with a "Premiere Tasting Event," inviting attendees to sample a selection of beer and cheese pairings from 3 to 6 p.m. for $30. If you'd like just a touch more time, the fest gives you the option to drop in early at 2:30 p.m. for an additional $10.

"Wisconsin is undisputedly one the world's great regions for producing phenomenal cheeses. Carr Valley, Saxony Homestead, Boars Head, etc. will be on hand to let you sample over 15 styles of cheeses with the over 50 different profiles of beer," Brown says.

Beer and cheese aren't the only things Brown and the "Audacious Beer Celebration" are stoked about. Live music runs all weekend long; Crazy Man's Basement plays Friday from 9 to 11:30 p.m., Alter Ego plays Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. followed by Zachary Wade at 7 p.m.

"The beers are really selected by who has a solid representation in the style of beer and has a track record of consistency. That's important with beer but not easy to execute," Brown says.