Edgar Allan Poe Event in Baltimore: Explore the Macabre Poe at Guilford Hall Brewery

October in Baltimore is the perfect time to explore the darker side of Edgar Allan Poe.

On Sunday, October 11, 2026, Profs and Pints Baltimore presents “The Macabre Poe” at Guilford Hall Brewery, an evening exploring some of Poe’s most gruesome and haunting works, the experiences that influenced his writing, and the enormous impact he continues to have on horror nearly two centuries later.

The event takes place in Crown Hall, with doors opening at 3 PM and the talk beginning at 4:30 PM.

The Macabre Poe: An Edgar Allan Poe Event in Baltimore

Edgar Allan Poe wrote across multiple genres, but his connection to horror and the macabre remains one of the most enduring parts of his legacy.

“The Macabre Poe” will explore why stories including “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and “The Masque of the Red Death” continue to captivate and unsettle readers generations after they were written.

The presentation will examine Poe not simply as a famous author, but as a writer whose life, experiences, and willingness to challenge literary conventions helped shape modern horror.

Meet Poe Scholar Amy Branam Armiento

Leading the discussion is Amy Branam Armiento, professor of English at Frostburg State University and a past president of the Poe Studies Association.

Armiento has edited More Than Love: The Enduring Fascination with Edgar Allan Poe and co-edited Poe and Women: Recognition and Revision. Her scholarship provides an opportunity to look beyond Poe’s familiar reputation and better understand the person, experiences, and literary influences behind his work.

What Inspired Poe's Darkest Stories?

Poe's own life contained significant experiences with illness, death, difficult relationships, and loss.

During the presentation, Armiento will examine how people and events in Poe's life influenced his relationship with subjects such as death, horror, violence, and the unknown.

Guests will also learn how Poe challenged literary conventions of his era through disturbing descriptions and unsettling stories involving violence between family members and loved ones.

Even familiar Poe stories can take on a different meaning when you understand the personal and cultural context surrounding their creation.

How Edgar Allan Poe Helped Shape Modern Horror

Poe's influence extends far beyond nineteenth-century literature.

His stories helped establish characters, circumstances, themes, and storytelling conventions that continue to appear throughout horror fiction today.

The presentation will explore those connections while also examining something readers might easily overlook: Poe's adaptation of fairy-tale conventions to create some of his most memorable and haunting stories.

For horror fans, it's an opportunity to trace familiar ideas back to one of the writers who helped shape the genre.

Poe, Art and the Macabre

The evening isn't limited to literary analysis.

The presentation will also feature examples of artwork used to illustrate editions of Poe's writing, offering another perspective on how artists have visually interpreted his eerie stories and imagery.

Together, the literature, history, biography, and artwork create a deeper look at why Poe remains such a recognizable figure in American culture.

Profs and Pints at Guilford Hall Brewery

Profs and Pints brings professors and other scholars into social settings where the general public can explore fascinating subjects without stepping into a traditional classroom.

Guilford Hall Brewery at 1611 Guilford Avenue is one of the series' Baltimore venues. The talks are designed for public audiences, although Profs and Pints notes that presentations are delivered at an adult level and may sometimes include mature subject matter.

For “The Macabre Poe,” the combination feels particularly appropriate: a discussion of one of Baltimore's most famous literary figures inside a historic Baltimore brewery during October.

Plan Your Sunday With The Macabre Poe

Here are the essential event details:

Event: Profs and Pints Baltimore: The Macabre PoeDate: Sunday, October 11, 2026Event Time: 4 PM–6:30 PMDoors Open: 3 PMTalk Begins: 4:30 PMLocation: Guilford Hall Brewery, 1611 Guilford Ave., Baltimore, MD 21202Speaker: Amy Branam ArmientoAdvance Tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing feesAt the Door: $17Student Admission at Door: $15 with student IDSeating: Open seating

October, Baltimore, craft beer, and Edgar Allan Poe make for a fitting combination.

Get your tickets, gather your fellow literature and horror fans, and experience the darker side of Poe at Guilford Hall Brewery. Explore upcoming events at www.guilfordhall.com.

Edgar Allan Poe event Baltimore