By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Jun 02, 2016 at 1:01 PM

We've already given you seven reasons to buy tickets for the Wisconsin Beer Lovers Festival, which takes place at the Bayshore Town Center on June 18.

But, just in case you didn’t quite buy the line about it being one of the best places to sample unique beers, we thought we’d give you six more reasons to consider attending.

We've consulted five breweries that will bring their wares to the festival, and each of them gave me at least one interesting brew they’ll have at this year’s festival.

1. Crimson Commander Imperial IPA
MobCraft Beer (Milwaukee)

According to MobCraft’s web site, this brew pours with a foxy caramel hue and features a citrus and pine hop aroma followed by a clean bright palate with a bitter and increasingly viscous mouthfeel. Its boozy character hides under malty hop-forward tones making this beer a smooth 8.5%.

2. Coffee Sweet Lady
O’so Brewing Co. (Plover)

"Coffee Sweet Lady is a sweet stout aged on Ruby Roaster coffee, named one of the best up and coming roasters in the U.S.," notes Marc Buttera, founder and CEO of O’so. "We are lucky to have them a few miles away."

3. Hop Doctor IPA
Raised Grain Brewing Co. (Waukesha)

"Hop Doctor was named for the Citra Dan Amarillo hops that are in it," notes Raised Grain co-owner Nick Reistad. "It’s also a nod to our brewmasters, both practicing physicians. This beer has bright citrusy notes with a light yet balanced malt backbone."

4. Hop Jockey Double IPA
Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee)

According to Russ Klisch, president, founder and owner of Lakefront Brewery, Hop Jockey is "Double down with extra Citra, Centennial and Cascade hops that gives the brew a big hop flavor.  Matched with just as big of malt backbone to give a fantastic double IPA."

5. Idiot Farm Imperial IPA
Karben4 Brewing (Madison)

Idiot Farm, which was first released in 2014, came back in limited quantity in four-pack bottles in 2015. It was the first seasonal Karben4 ever bottled and, according to Operations Manager Meena Dayal, it’ll be back in bottles for 2016. The beer is amber in color with a white head. Hoppy aromas offer up tropical fruits like pineapple, mango and citrus along with pine. Flavor is balanced with sweet caramel notes from the hops.

6. SMaSH Summer Ale
Lakefront Brewery (Milwaukee)

Klisch notes that "SMaSH stands for Single Hop and Single Hop and is made with only Willamette hops and Vienna malt. The combination makes a well balance summer ale."

Ticket information

VIP tickets for the Wisconsin Beer Lovers Festival are available for $65 and include a tasting glass, access to a special VIP tent featuring specialty beers not available to general ticket-holders and early entry to the festival beginning at 1 p.m.

General admission tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door and include a souvenir beer sampling glass and unlimited samples of beer and food pairings 

Food lovers, designated drivers and patrons under 21 years of age can purchase a "Food Lovers Ticket" for $25 

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit wisconsinbeerloversfest.com.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.