Name: Garth Beyer
Title and Organization: Owner, Garth’s Brew Bar; Marketing Manager, Encompass Technologies
Graduation Year and Degree: 2014, B.A. in Journalism (strategic communication and multimedia journalism)
Garth Beyer’s passion for craft beer started long before he first opened the doors of Garth’s Brew Bar. While at UW-Madison, he immersed himself in the craft beer world, launching the Badger Herald’s craft beer column and finding any opportunity to write about beer in his J-School classes. When Beyer opened Garth’s Brew Bar on Monroe Street in December 2019, he couldn’t have predicted that only three short months later, he would have to pivot carry-out sales only. However, dubbed the “Greatest American Beer Bar” in 2020 by CraftBeer.com, Garth’s has proved to be a community staple and is still going strong four years later.
When it comes to Garth’s Brew Bar, what are you most proud of?
My pride is two-fold: first, it’s the fact that we built a place that our team members want to visit when they’re not on the clock and the second part is the positive comments I hear about the place when I’m sort of undercover, hanging in the bar as if I were a guest.
What’s the best advice you have for a J-School student who wants to do what you do?
Keep your hopes up high and head down low.
What is your favorite J-School memory?
When Professor Baughman told me I could deviate from his curriculum and do all my assignments on the topic of beer (because that was my passion).
BONUS: When we say “J-School,” what do you think of?
Curb Magazine.