Let My Birthday Weekend Commenceth

Call me a nerd, but Gettysburg is a special place to me for multiple reasons. I was part of the generation that grew up interested in not only the battle, but the American Civil War due to the release of the motion picture in 1993. Combine that with William Frassanito's Gettysburg: A Journey In Time, a study in which famous photographs of Civil War dead are examined and eventually located on today's battlefield. Exhilarating stuff.

Gettysburg is a place that has provided me and the world with years worth of stories. So much happened there that you could read books on the subject for the rest of your life and still not know the stories of all who fought there.

It's also the place in which I had my first legal drink. Said drink was at O'Rorke's Eatery and Spirits on Steinwehr Avenue, named after Colonel Patty O'Rorke of the 140th New York which fought on Little Round Top. My father took me there right at midnight of the 16th that year. I had a rum and coke and much to my disappointment I wasn't even carded. As I embark upon this trip very soon I once again hope to be carded as I finally have a driver's license that depicts someone as thin as I am now.

I also hope to frequent establishments that I've become fascinated with on previous trips. This includes both Appalachian Brewing Company which sits near the first day's field and across the street from one of the more famous photographs in history. I'm almost certain I want to get my hands on some more of its Mountain Lager again. There's also a great burger joint by the name of Blue and Gray Bar and Grill in the town square. I also have plans to meet Justin of Justin's Brew Review at the Dobbin House Tavern, a place also on Steinwehr that I haven't dined at as of yet.

The Dobbin House Tavern on Steinwehr. There at the time of the battle.

I mentioned last week that there are sources untapped. If you're among the few that follow this blog you know I'm referring to the newly established Gettysburg Battlefield Brew Works in the old Monfort farm house. It's owned by a former assistant at rock Bottom at the Waterfront Shopping Complex.

I'm sure I'll be posting plenty of photographs and updates on my Twitter feed as my trip progresses. Tomorrow, I hope to have a special post up about one of my former classmates in high school who's putting on a special beer project here in my hometown of Munhall.