Place + Beer
People often say about Eureka Springs, “This place just got a hold of us.” Part of it is the place, Eureka Springs. Most of it, honestly, is the people. There is something truly magical about Eureka Springs.
Eureka Springs had gotahold of Dave and Wendy, too. That’s why they decided to name the brewery Gotahold Brewing to honor the place, the journey, and the magic that has brought it to life. An unusual name for sure, one that people who’ve never been to the town can’t really understand. But those who have get it.
Since opening in July 2020, Gotahold Brewing has earned recognition from both industry professionals and the communities we serve:
- Arkansas Times “Toast of the Town” 2024: Best Arkansas IPA, Best Arkansas Pilsner, Best Arkansas Seasonal Beer, and Best Brewpub
- Best of Northwest Arkansas: Winner 2021, 2022, and 2023 for Best Brewery; Winner 2023 for Best Beer Selection
- 2023 Craft Beer Marketing Awards (Crushie Awards): Platinum Crushie for our Mexican Buddha Coffee Brown Ale (collaboration with nuJava Coffee Company), Gold Crushie for Coolest Taproom, and Gold Crushie for LGBTQ+ Solidarity Logo
Featured In
Our story has been shared by Arkansas Times, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Money & Politics, AY Magazine, Fayetteville Flyer, Only In Arkansas, Axios NW Arkansas, and CraftBeer.com.
Community First
Beyond crafting exceptional beer, Gotahold is committed to our community. We’ve donated over $30,000 to local nonprofits and maintain an ongoing 1% profit donation program supporting veterans health, socioeconomic justice, literacy, and environmental care, including partnerships with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
Welcome to Gotahold Brewing—where award-winning craft beer meets the magic of Eureka Springs.
Dave Hartmann
Master Brewer, Co-Owner
Award-Winning Brewing Excellence
Master Brewer Dave Hartmann brings over 30 years of commercial brewing experience to Gotahold, with a diploma from the prestigious UC Davis brewing program. Before finding his home in Eureka Springs, Dave served as Brewmaster at Long Trail Brewing Co. in Vermont, where he grew the brewery’s output to nearly 150,000 barrels per year. His expertise spans brewing in the Northeast, California, Germany, and the Midwest.
He has won numerous medals at the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Fest. He has served as a consultant and educator within the craft field. He was a co-owner of Empire Brewing in New York. Dave serves as the Brewmaster and head Sales/Distribution here at Gotahold Brewing.
Wendy Reese Hartmann
Chief Experience Originator, Co-owner
Wendy Reese Hartmann has been in the health and fitness field for 32 years working with private clients, corporate clients, and groups. She has taught thousands of students. She holds a MA in Applied Community Change and Conservation. She has written/published three books, maintained a blog for 12 years, hosted two podcasts, and remains a teacher on Insight Timer. She has studied marketing with Seth Godin. A huge fan of craft beer for many years, she has worked with breweries in Arizona and Vermont for over 10 years serving beer and interacting with consumers at festivals and special events. She is a certified Cicerone Level I. Wendy serves on the Northwest Arkansas Tourism Association Board of Directors. Wendy books all the music and art for Gotahold Brewing and just about everything else Dave doesn’t do.
Mission
Craft exceptional fermented beverages using sustainable practices and local ingredients, that honors traditions while enriching our community and creating meaningful work.
Vision
Be a distinguished Ozark brewery known for quality craftsmanship, share-worthy products, and create positively memorable experiences for generations to come
OUR TEAM
The Raven
The raven is a protective totem for us. No offense to Mr. Poe, it has nothing to do with him. Ravens are intelligent, playful, intuitive, problem-solving birds who aren’t afraid of the “shadows”.
Our raven and our logo were designed by Tom Rzonca.
Alyssa Zimmerman, Assistant Brewer/Taproom
Alyssa is a ceramist who moonlights as a beertender and Assistant Brewer. She has a way with words and writes bar-none the best tasting notes on Untappd. Alyssa is Cicerone Level 1 certified.
Ethan Kerns, Taproom
To say Ethan is a passionate and proud cat date is an extreme understatement. Ethan appreciates the inclusive environment of Gotahold, his teammates, the people he gets to serve, and the opportunities for growth. When not working, he enjoys hiking and hanging around his people. Ethan is Cicerone Level 1 certified.
Kyle Otterman, Taproom
Kyle is the kinda person who values hard work and treating people with kindness. He realized that work is more than a paycheck, it’s about finding purpose and growing as a person. Working at Gotahold makes him feel supported, challenged, and it reminds him that the small things he does everyday can make a real difference. Kyle is Cicerone Level 1 certified
Sherry Bryan, Executive Assistant/Taproom
Originally from Oregon, Sherry has called Eureka Springs home for almost 35 years. She retired from a government job and has worked for Gotahold for 4 years. She is a lifelong equestrian and still competes.
She has a private pilot’s license and has been to all 50 states. She’s always enjoyed meeting people and finding out about them, and Gotahold allows her to talk about Eureka Springs while making new friends. Sherry is Cicerone Level 1 certified.
Tyler Williamson, Host/Busser
Music has always been Tyler’s biggest passion. He plays several instruments, including drums, bass, and ukulele. He’s easygoing enjoys meeting new people who share similar hobbies and passions.
He and his family have been going to Gotahold almost every weekend since it first opened to enjoy the live music, so it already felt like a familiar place. He was excited to join the team and over time he has come to appreciate not only the job but also the amazing people and welcoming atmosphere that make Gotahold special.