There Was Something in the Air at Guggman Haus

Why it feels different—and why that’s not an accident.

Last Saturday at Guggman Haus was one of those magical days in the Beer Garden—sunny day, bands, pop-ups, dogs, families, friends…it’s almost as if Abby (Gorman—co-owner of GH) had conjured it up from her crystal ball.

I sat down with Abby last week just before Frühlingsfest started for the weekend and asked her—what does it look like when you think…yeah, this is exactly what we hoped for when we created Guggman Haus?

“A full beer garden with the sun setting, maybe just a Friday night in the summer, and it’s just like beautiful—there is music, there are people just hanging out enjoying themselves and it’s community and connection…all of that encompassed in this space that we built is really cool to see.”

Well, she only missed on two details…it’s still spring and it was a Saturday, but you get the idea. People way smarter than me will tell you that breweries are often a “third place” for people—a social environment outside of home and work that they consider a home away from home…a place to meet friends and chill—and that is the Guggman Haus vibe.

And…that vibe is often centered around live music—most often local live music. I think Abby would admit to you that they didn’t build the place to be a music venue, but music has been part of their DNA from the beginning… the very beginning. On opening day back in 2019, there was live music.

Steve Kennan (Red-Tailed Hawk), a regular musician at Guggman Haus, remembers it this way:

“My favorite memory is just playing there the very first day they opened when it was just a little greenhouse and I was playing inside in between the two pieces of the sectional couch!!! Straight Up Chumps were supposed to play, but it was cold and rainy, so I got the call the night before that they needed a solo musician.”

So, Steve was the guy…there from day one…music from day one.

And wait, did he just call out the Straight Up Chumps? Too cold?

Abby affirmed Steve is the guy…

“Steve Kennan is great…he’s honestly just like…consistent, you know, and easy to work with—and a crowd favorite.”

A lot of breweries have music. A lot of breweries do music well. I’m not here to try and sell you that Guggman Haus is the very best—they may be—what I’m trying to suggest is that there is something special about connection with music and the musicians that Abby books for Guggman Haus.

Bands like…Straight Up Chumps. As she said:

“The Chumps play songs people know—their jam band vibe is great—most people can find a song they like and connect with, and then it takes you to some memory you have, or creating new memories right there.”

Indeed. Creating a memory. Music does that.

The Chumps would affirm that. From their Fruhlingsfest stage at Guggman Haus last Saturday, lead singer and bassist Seagers Rodrigues said, “Thank you Guggman Haus for having us and always providing the best vibe.”

Newcomers to the Guggman scene immediately get that vibe…Adam Zoibi, one half of A.M. Radio Indy and a relative GH newbie, has experienced it. Of his last time playing there he said:

“Providing an opportunity for our friends and families to get together is also one of my favorite things about playing there, and secondly, how much fun the crowd has is validating on lots of levels.”

There is definitely a similarity among Red-Tailed Hawk, the Chumps, and A.M. Radio…these are bands that resonate with listeners—it’s why Guggman Haus intentionally invites bands like them back.

“Some people just want to come and have music in the background, and a lot of times originally that’s what we planned—but the Chumps who played at our first anniversary—they are great, they bring great vibes—great at getting good crowd interaction.”

So, the resonating with listeners just evolved, emerged, grew organically…and it’s one of the intangibles at Guggman Haus. Again, as Zoibi reflected on playing at GH:

“It’s cool to know that the music we write resonates with people. Hearing/seeing people sing your songs with you, or being asked to play a song you wrote makes the beer taste even better.”

Another key intangible in the whole Guggman Haus vibe is that it is a dog-friendly, family-friendly brewery. I asked Abby how they draw that balance with live music:

“Well, it just goes hand in hand with family atmosphere. You’re sitting at a picnic table in a beer garden, and there’s live music right there—it’s like, I think, ‘oh, my kids get to experience live music tonight. This is awesome.’”

Steve put it this way:

“It’s always a really diverse crowd and I personally love playing places where there are families because the kids get so into the music—I really like that part of it—and there’s always kids down dancing and rocking out having a good time at Guggman.”

That…right there…is the genius of music at Guggman Haus. One part planned, one part spontaneous, one part connection…shaken, not stirred, and poured out into an always authentic music experience.

Summer is right around the corner…music will be on tap at Guggman Haus. Steve will be there, Adam will be there, and Guggman Haus has just announced that they officially have IT going on…Porch Party on May 21, Friday Night Music Series beginning this month and running through the summer.

You knew the beer is some of the best in the city. You knew the kitchen is go-to. Now you know it is a destination music place too (you likely already knew that…I just reminded you).