Books and Brews currently has two locations: one in Indianapolis, which they call the “mothership,” and one in Brownsburg.
The latter location opened in 2017, and Nick Valentin became owner in 2020.
It’s a unique spot to visit; one part bookstore, one part gaming store and one part brewery.
“I initially came to Books and Brews for my love of craft beer, but since then, I’ve made a lot of friends here. I work here, but I’m often hanging out even when I’m off of work because the regular customers are friends of mine,” Valentin said. “Even the majority of my employees were customers first. It’s a fun place with a fun atmosphere.”
A wide variety of used books are donated, and Books and Brews resells them for $3 each, keeping a continuously rotating supply of different reads. They also partner with Indy Reads, donating 10% of the proceeds from every book sale to help promote adult and family literacy in Central Indiana.
In addition, a variety of card games and collectibles, such as Pokémon and Magic, along with materials that go with the games, are available for purchase. If you happen to be a sports card collector, look for signed memorabilia and more. There’s often an assortment of products to choose from at Books and Brews.
There are board games, giving friends and families the opportunity to hang out and spend time together after grabbing a bite to eat.
“We’ve got beer, wine, cider and food like pretzels, sandwiches, wraps, along with a full line of coffee, espressos and lattes,” Valentin said.
The selections come with fun names, too.
The Hemingway, for example, is Books and Brews’ version of a Cuban with ham, capocollo, spicy mustard, pickles and provolone cheese on sourdough. The Girl with the Chicken Nuggies Tattoo is a basket full of boneless chicken bites served with your choice of sauce.
The Clifford is an Irish-style red ale; the Charlie is a chocolate milk stout; and Cream & Punishment is a cream ale.
“There’s a good mix of everything. We’re providing a relaxed atmosphere, and we want to be the common place where people can come out, spend time with friends, family and neighbors, and there’s no pressure,” Valentin said.
Join the Mug Club for a one-time fee of $75 and receive 20-ounce pours for the price of a 16-ounce pour for life, a percentage off collectibles and merchandise, a locally made handmade ceramic mug, permission to use Books and Brews as a lending library, and priority access to special-release beers.
Nearly every night of the week, there are special events.
Every Tuesday evening is Magic (card game) Night, every Thursday night is Trivia Night, Saturdays always have live music, and throughout the week, Pokémon leagues meet for game time.
“There’s always something going on,” Valentin said. “On Nov. 11, we’re partnering with Good Samaritan Episcopal Church for the Spirit in Place Festival. We host them once per month for a live music event. On Nov. 13, there’s Drag Queen Bingo; that’s always a fun time, and more special events will be announced as we get closer to the holidays.”
The family-friendly atmosphere isn’t narrowed to Books and Brews’ four walls, however. They make concentrated efforts to be involved in the Brownsburg community, too.
“We host a lot of Dine to Donates for Brownsburg team sports, pet rescue organizations and other local groups,” Valentin said. “We’ve done events with Hendricks County Pride, and we regularly partner with Valkyries Vault (gaming store), the Brownsburg Parks Department at the Farmers Market and other events.”
Books and Brews is located at 1551 N. Green St., Suite I, in Brownsburg. Visit booksnbrews.com for more information.
