As bars in California continue to open up, pub trivia is once again being offered. Bar Trivia is a great way to flex your knowledge and have fun. In the six years that I’ve regularly attended trivia I’ve encountered two trivia companies that contract with host bars to run the quiz; Geeks Who Drink and Brainstormer Trivia. A vast majority of bars in the bay area contract with one of these companies (there are exceptions of course where the individual bars create their own format and content each week). Due to my years of experience with each format, I’ve decided to outline what I enjoy about each quiz so that anyone interested in tying bar trivia out has an idea of what they are getting into. Happy Quizzing!
Geeks Who Drink
A nationally run quiz company, Geeks Who Drink offers a great format for those who have never done bar trivia before. The quiz consists of 8 rounds of 6 questions, each with themes ranging from music, history, geography, and random knowledge. At times there are bonus questions and tie-breaking questions if needed. The quiz rules also provide a structure for teams; No more than 6 members per team are allowed (larger groups can compete but are not eligible for winning the bar gift card prize if they receive the most points). The quiz content focuses heavily on music, movies, TV, and pop culture, oftentimes dedicating several rounds to these topics. If you have plenty of pop culture knowledge I think that is a great starting point to do decently well on the quiz. Geeks Who Drinks offers a fun and welcoming format that will continue to entertain novice and experienced trivia players alike.
Brainstormer Trivia
Founded in San Francisco, Brainstormer Trivia has expanded throughout the bay area and across the country. The quiz format is 6 rounds of 10 questions each. Topics include music, science, history, and general knowledge. Each of the 6 rounds has a unique theme. The quiz master does have a touch more control over the format and bonus questions vs GWD. Getting to know the quiz master is to your team’s advantage! There are no team size limits so if you have more than 6 players with you no need to fret about not being in the running to win a prize (usually a gift card to the bar). I’ve found that the greater diversity one’s team possesses, the better chance they have at doing well on a Brainstormer Quiz. Age diversity is especially helpful to have, so Gen Z and Millenials feel free to invite your parents ;) I would recommend trying Brainstormer Trivia out if you’ve attended pub trivia before, but don’t hesitate to try out this format even if you are a new player or team.
Geeks Who Drink and Brainstormer Trivia both offer great pub trivia quizzes. The enjoyment threshold for both formats is high so regardless of your skill level there is some niche question or round you will ace. Gather your group of friends and head out to a pub trivia quiz!