The Guardian Brewing Co: From Garage Batches to Downtown Anchor

The Guardian Brewing Company didn’t start with a business plan. It started with two brothers-in-law, a turkey fryer, and weekends spent brewing in the garage.

“In 2015, we officially started the business,” said Bill, one of The Guardian’s owners. “But years before that, Jason and I were brewing on Saturdays and Sundays, watching football. I have a maintenance background, so I welded a frame together, and before long, we had this elaborate little system running off a computer. At some point, we realized the only way to get cheaper ingredients was to start a business. That was the beginning of The Guardian.”

The name itself is central to their story. Both Bill and Jason share the given name William, which means “guardian” or “protector.” That meaning became their identity. Guardian was more than just a name.

Taking the Leap

Starting a brewery meant taking risks. “The biggest leap of faith was signing our first lease,” Bill explained. “To apply for a brewer’s license, you have to have a business address, not your home. That meant paying rent for months before we could even open our doors. We’re just blue-collar guys. We used our own resources and made it work.”

That leap set The Guardian on the path from hobby brewers to business owners.

Finding a Home at MadJax

After their first location at White River Plaza, The Guardian’s next chapter took shape at MadJax. The move downtown provided them with space to grow and positioned them at the heart of an entrepreneurial hub.

MadJax supported the transition by helping to build out the space, allowing the Guardian team time to invest in equipment. That partnership made the brewery’s growth possible.

“Being here also means more people find their way in,” Bill said. “Visitors come for other businesses, classes, or events, and they discover The Guardian along the way.” Because of this, many know them as Muncie’s downtown brewery.

Jennifer Chrich, The Guardian’s manager, has been with the business since the beginning. “I think just watching the business grow has been awesome. We still get new customers almost every day who’ve never been here before. It makes me really proud of what they’ve built.”

As one of the anchor tenants, The Guardian has become part of the building’s heartbeat. They draw people downtown not only for beer but also for food, music, and activities that ripple through the MadJax community.

Brewing and Beyond

Brewing remains the heart of The Guardian, with fan favorites like Rainbow Pop, Neon Viking, and 765 Lager leading the lineup. However, just like many MadJax makers, The Guardian has also embraced creativity in other ways.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, they added a kitchen, and pizzas quickly became an integral part of their identity. Some flavors came straight from the team. Bill the Butcher was inspired by one Bill himself, and another pizza was Jennifer’s idea. A former kitchen manager’s love of pickles even sparked their now-famous pickle pizza. “It used to be named after her, but that was hard to pronounce,” Bill laughed. “So now we just call it the Street Pickle.” The name itself came from a long-running inside joke after someone dropped a pickle on Jackson Street outside MadJax, and it stayed there for months.

The Guardian also brings the community together through events. Trivia and bingo keep the space lively, while live music and special collaborations add variety. They have partnered with Made in Muncie for pottery collabs, use John Tom’s BBQ sauce (which is stored at MadJax) on pizzas, and this summer helped launch the Courtyard Concert Series. Jennifer has plenty of other ideas cooking up.

Looking Ahead

For The Guardian, the future is about building on its strong foundation. “We’re going to focus on making this space even more fun,” Bill said. “More music, more events. This is where we want the energy to be.”

When asked to sum up The Guardian in one word, Jennifer answered first: “Fun.” “That’s the goal,” she said. “We want people to come here and have a good time.”

Bill agreed. “We sell fun.”

From humble garage beginnings to becoming a downtown anchor, The Guardian Brewing Company is proof that entrepreneurs and makers come in all forms.

Their craft is beer, but their impact is bigger. They are building community, creating experiences, and embodying an entrepreneurial spirit.