Hemingway meets hops:  The unique Vision of new Indianapolis Brewery, Books & Brews

Hemingway meets hops:  The unique Vision of new Indianapolis Brewery, Books & Brews

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By Justin Knepp of Indiana On Tap

As strange as it sounds, I once read somewhere that writers write and drinkers drink.  History, however, seems to suggests that some of the best of each were one in the same.  Ernest Hemingway had his mojitos.  Oscar Wilde famously indulged in his absinthe.  Even F. Scott Fitzgerald was known for his appreciation of the Gin Rickey. 

Let me be clear: I’m not saying that over-serving yourself with one too many mojitos will allow you to write like Hemingway.  What I am saying is that there seems to have always been a place for drinking and literature.  And now if you live in the greater Indianapolis area, you have a physical location that caters to both.  

Opened on March 21st, (2014) on the Northeast side of Indianapolis, Books & Brews is the first concept of its kind in the state–a bookstore and a brewery all-in-one.  Well, sort of.  The rooms are technically separated by a simple doorway but I’m told the door is always left open.

Located at 9402 Uptown Drive, Suite 1400, with an address that borders Fishers, the first thing that you may notice…or fail to notice, is the location itself.  However, that’s something that owner/brewer Jason Wuerfel will be changing soon.

“I’m going to add some additional signage to make the entrance to the brewery more noticeable from the road.”

I guess that’s sort of ironic since the office/warehouse space they now call home used to be the location of an Indianapolis sign company.  Either way, I quickly learned that people are finding the location just fine.  There was a steady stream of patrons for an early Friday afternoon when I visited recently–both book enthusiasts and craft beer drinkers alike.  The entrance is unassuming.  You enter into the book store but once you work your way towards the back, past the island coffee bar, you can’t help but want to peek in that open doorway next to the cash register.  If you do, you’ll be treated to the back room which houses both the nano brewery and the tap room.  The extra long tile-top bar is more than welcoming, as is the ‘Poetry Wall’ at the brewery entrance.

“Yeah…if you’re ever hit with any poetic or literary inspiration, grab the chalk and share it with the world.  That’s why it’s there,” Wuerfel added.

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The Poetry Wall–available to anyone when that inspiration hits.
The tap room has an industrial look and feel to it–as made evident by the exposed stainless steel hvac piping crisscrossing across the ceiling above.  The walls are comprised of exposed cinder block, but that’s something that Wuerfel expects to improve upon in time.

“The plan is to eventually get some local artisans in here who can create some murals on the walls…murals that pay tribute to some of literature’s greatest authors.”

I couldn’t help but agree that this was an incredible idea…but then again, this was after I had tasted the 5 craft beers on tap (all named after literary figures) and then treated myself to a couple of pints of my new favorite, their Hops Cradle (Nitro) Double IPA.  I’m a sucker for good IPAs, what can I say.  And when you include that much Centennial and Cascade hops, you really can’t go wrong.

With the current brewing system in place, Wuerfel says that their tap selection will change regularly.  One thing that won’t change is his position on excluding televisions in the tap room.  It’s intended to be a place for human interaction and conversation–another real novelty that adds to the charm of Wuerfel’s concept.  He will eventually be adding a projector screen, however, that will be made available for special events only.

In addition to old-fashioned conversation, Books & Brews will also be offering open mic nights, live music, book clubs, tabletop games, author readings, wine tastings, and even movie screenings.

To fully appreciate the unique concept of Books & Brews, you need to better understand its owner.  Wuerfel is a former University of Michigan baseball player and English major who grew up reading and appreciating the fantasy fiction of author Robert Jordan.  He even penned his own novel about a year in the life of a minor league baseball player–with some of the characters and events based on real life encounters during his own stint as a minor league player.  While never published, he revealed that a ‘copy or two’ may be available and for sale in the bookstore for anyone interested.

After picking up homebrewing and perfecting his craft through countless batches over the years, his dream became a reality when a successful online Kickstarter campaign led to over $17,000 from investors–enough to get the bookstore and brewery off the ground.

Where things go from here is still to be determined–but Wuerfel notes that he’ll be running the brewery with the same business principles used to run a successful minor league baseball team…and that starts with hiring the right people.  He plans to eventually replace himself with a new head brewer so that he can focus more on growing the business.  With a concept as original as his and a Hoosier audience with an insatiable appetite for great craft beer, I’m willing to place a bet that Books & Brews will be a home run.

To learn more about Books & Brews, visit their brewery page on Indiana On Tap by clicking here.

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