Bar trivia in Madison is a Tuesday-and-Thursday tradition. Two major networks run most of the nights — America’s Pub Quiz and Premier Trivia — plus a handful of venue-specific quizmasters. Most quizzes are free to play. Most run a six-to-eight-round format with prize cards or bar tabs for the top three teams. Most start between 6:30 and 8pm.
Here’s the actual map of trivia in Madison, what to expect when you walk in, and which night to pick.
The Tuesday Night Move: Trivia at Garth’s Brew Bar
America’s Pub Quiz, every Tuesday, 6pm, Garth’s Brew Bar — 1726 Monroe St.
Free to play. Walk in with a team of two to six and grab any open table. Eight rounds (mix of general knowledge, music, image rounds, and audio rounds). Prize cards for first, second, and third place. America’s Pub Quiz hosts a season-long league with points carrying over week to week — show up consistently for the season prize, or one-off for a Tuesday evening with good beer and better questions.
What makes the Garth’s version different from most Madison trivia nights:
- The beer is the program, not the loss leader. Sixteen rotating craft taps, ninety-five-plus cans and bottles in the cooler. The beertenders are studying for or hold the Cicerone Beer Server certification. Ask before ordering.
- No TVs blaring sports. You can hear the quizmaster. You can hear your teammates.
- Bring your own food. Great restaurants right on Monroe Street. Order delivery to the bar. Pack a sandwich.
Trivia runs about two hours. Arrive by 5:45pm if you want a table — game-night Tuesdays fill up.
What to Expect at America’s Pub Quiz (Generally)
The Pub Quiz format is consistent across venues:
- Team size: 2 to 6 players. Solo is fine — they’ll seat you with another small group if you want.
- Rounds: Usually 8 rounds. Pub-Quiz-standard mix of general knowledge, current events, themed rounds (decade music, movie scenes, US presidents), an image round, and an audio round.
- Scoring: Score sheets passed table-to-table for grading. Honor system, friendly enforcement.
- Cost: Free to play.
- Prizes: Gift cards for top 3. Bar tabs at some venues. Both at others.
Trivia Networks Running in Madison
- America’s Pub Quiz — runs at multiple venues in Madison and statewide. Find the full schedule on their Madison league page.
- Premier Trivia — Wisconsin’s second-largest network. Different format, similar approach.
- Quizmaster Trivia — independent quizmaster, runs at a smaller set of venues.
- Venue-specific quizzes — some bars run their own in-house trivia, separate from the networks. Quality varies.
Most quizmasters publish their full schedules online. If you want trivia on a specific night, search “[network name] Madison schedule.”
What to Bring (and What Not to Bring)
Bring:
- Two to six teammates. Diverse interests beat raw intelligence — you want a music person, a sports person, a movies person, a history person, and a generalist.
- A pen. (Most venues provide them, but having your own avoids the round-one scramble.)
- Cash for prize-card tips at venues where that’s the custom.
Don’t bring:
- Phones out at the table. Most quizmasters watch for it and disqualify. Even a glance at Google can cost the team.
- An expectation that you’ll win on round one. Some rounds are themed in ways that punish weeks you don’t arrive for. Show up enough Tuesdays and the points compound.
FAQ
Is Madison trivia free?
Almost all of it, yes. Pub Quiz, Premier Trivia, and most venue-specific trivia nights are free to play.
What if I’m solo?
Show up. Quizmasters frequently pair small parties or solo players into ad hoc teams. The trivia community is friendly to newcomers.
How early should I arrive?
Twenty minutes before start time. Best tables go fast. Sound coverage in the room varies — sit close enough to hear the quizmaster clearly.
Can kids play?
At Garth’s, the bar is family-friendly. Trivia starts at 6pm and runs about two hours. The questions skew adult (current events, music, history), so age 16-and-up is usually the sweet spot for a kid to actually contribute.
What night should I go?
Tuesday. Garth’s, 6pm, America’s Pub Quiz. Free, good beer, good questions.
Keep an eye on the Garth’s Brew Bar Instagram, too. Sometimes Garth’s Brew Bar adds one-off themed trivia like Star Trek, Football, Friends, and more.