Horror fans northwest of downtown Indianapolis have a new reason to raise a glass this fall: Guggman Haus Brewing Co. is hosting a Midwest horror and gothic literature festival called Books, Brews & Boos, pairing regional authors with fall-themed beers and ciders, including a pumpkin milk stout. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the event beginning at 6 p.m.
The festival is hosted by Guggman Haus Brewing Co. in partnership with The Whispering Shelf, an independent bookstore located in Lockerbie Square, according to the brewery's event listing. Attendees will gather in the brewery's Festhall for a panel discussion with several Midwest-based horror and gothic literature authors, and every ticket includes a book from one of the visiting writers, per the same listing.
Lena Burt, owner of The Whispering Shelf, said the event showcases horror authors from Indiana, the Chicago area and Kentucky, according to WISH-TV. The bookstore is hosting the gathering as a way to support local horror authors and artists, the station reports.
Two Local Businesses, One Shared Mission
Abby Gorman, co-owner of Guggman Haus Brewing Co., said the collaboration brings together two local businesses with a shared interest in creating community events, WISH-TV reports. It's not the first time the pair have joined forces: the bookstore and brewery partnered on a Grown-Up Book Fair on Feb. 28, 2026, an event that came with its own custom brew, according to WISH-TV's earlier coverage, which described a beer called Mood Reader released for that occasion.
That same report noted organizers said Indianapolis's literary scene has expanded in recent years to include more independent bookstores, author events and local literary initiatives — a trend Books, Brews & Boos appears to extend into the horror and gothic space. Guggman Haus describes itself as a family-friendly brewery, according to its event page, and the taproom sits northwest of downtown Indianapolis.
Fall Beers and a Fresh Horror Anthology
Guggman Haus is offering fall-themed beers and ciders for the occasion, including its Midnight Gourd Pumpkin Milk Stout, the brewery's listing shows. Beyond sampling seasonal brews, guests will get the chance to meet Midwest horror authors and shop their books directly, per the same source.
The timing lines up with a notable release in the wider horror-literature world: Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latiné Horror, a collection of 17 short stories edited by Bram Stoker Award winner Cynthia Pelayo, came out Tuesday from Atria/Primero Sueno Press, according to its publisher listing. Pelayo, who lives in Chicago, is not confirmed as part of the Guggman Haus lineup, but the anthology's release the same week underscores the genre's momentum in the region.
For those looking to dig deeper into the anthology itself, the Chicago Review of Books published a review the same day the collection hit shelves. Meanwhile, The Whispering Shelf's own roots in the neighborhood date back to its opening, as chronicled by Shelf Awareness when the store first launched in Lockerbie Square.
