Garth's Brew Bar — Restaurant in Madison

The passion for beer that runs through this place is palpable.

When you enter from Monroe St. you are greeted with the bright and social interior with a modern, cozy aesthetic. To your right will be a stunning array of cans for you to browse. Ahead of you is the counter to pay for your drinks or order something on tap. I guarantee that whoever takes your order will be immensely knowledgeable about the beers on offer as well as being enthusiastic and kind. Once you have your drink of choice, grab a seat at a table and the rest of your experience can begin.

The air around you will be abuzz with conversation and connections. The tables allow for medium to large groups to sit at and they fill up. There are games for you to play and I cannot recommend Spot It highly enough. Garth’s creates an environment where you can earnestly connect with others and revel in the company. The music they play is also incredible. While there, I heard one of my favorites, Sammy Rae & The Friends, and it made the experience even better.

The owner, Garth, is a Cicerone (sommelier of the beer world) who is not only knowledgeable, but overjoyed and friendly as well. The team he has built around him shares an excitement for beer and the community that brings and they work to share their joy with you.

Throughout the pandemic they held virtual beer tastings where Garth took you through the tasting experience and gave you a glimpse of his expertise. If you enjoy beer, go to Garth’s and you’ll find new levels...

Great addition to the Monroe Street Block here! The interior was very welcoming to stay a while, modern and rustic charme combined. With the way they price their many available choices of draft beer you can sample quite a few throughout the evening. A 4oz glass starts is $2,50 and an 8oz $5 for instance. I was told they rotate them very frequently, too. There's a fridge as well where you can mix and match some amazing brews to take home. There's the mandatory TV but they've placed it so that you could also choose to ignore it with your entire party ;). They even have boardgames! They really focus on the bar but if you wanted food, too, you can order one of the four choices of Fraboni pizza for $12 (I got the cheese, yum) or have...

Garth's is special not only due to their wide selection of rotating taps and large selection of craft beers/seltzers/ciders that you can purchase, but they also allow you to bring in food to eat which offers a ton of flexibility for anyone looking for a relaxed environment to have a drink. There's also a self-serve water/utensil station that allows people to enjoy their meals and stay hydrated effortlessly.

I really enjoy coming here with my family to play some board games or just watch the hustle & bustle of Monroe street over a cold beverage. Staff have always been courteous and attentive during my visits, and the place is always very clean which goes a long way in creating a...