Love, Beer and History

I returned from yet another excursion to Gettysburg last night. I must admit that it was with much sadness that I departed the quaint town. It was time to head home, but inside I actually felt like I was leaving a place that is meant to be my home in due time.

Many things factor into my feelings for Gettysburg. The rolling topography, the stories of those that fought and/or lived there, the multiple fruit stands with Chambersburg peaches on the way there, the lovely town square and the historic aura. I even love it so much that I have a tendency to write some forms of run-on sentences when I think of it. I'm so attached to this place that I was too saddened to leave that I cost myself one of my few opportunities to visit Troegs Brewing Company in Hershey on the way home.

Union artillery in the newly-renovated Ziegler's Grove.

I have much to share in the next week or two in the beer-related things I discovered on this trip. I find it interesting that I was disappointed to find the sulking beer scene that I did last summer only to stumble upon a town infused with more craft beer. There's still more room for growth, though. My favorite place in the world is definitely on the ups in terms of craft beer.

I've been reveling with anticipation at a chance to finally visit the Gettysburg Battlefield Brew Works in the historic Monfort farm house. I found this to be a microcosm of the town's growth in beer presence. The place and process still needs some work, but the foundation for a cornucopia of fresh local beer is more than visible.

I was able to finally meet Justin of Justin's Brew Review over the weekend as well. We dined at the historic Dobbin House Tavern. I discovered a new Pennsylvania brewery by the name of Spring House. The Dobbin House had its 150th Anniversary Ale tapped in honor of the battle.

I also returned to one of my favorite burger joints in the Gettysburg area at Blue and Gray Bar and Grill. There I found an interesting beer contraption that was built into my table as well as more evidence of a diverse beer presence in the town. Stay tuned.

And Across the Blue Ridge

Almost a month ago, I had a post about a pending license for a place called Gettysburg Battlefield Brew Works and how the address of the place caused me to recollect that it's the very same Civil War farm house that the now-defunct Gettysbrew place was located.

Now, I know what you're saying. That this goof is once again bringing up Gettysburg once again and it in no way relates to your drinking in this area. Not so fast, grasshopper. I got both a  tweet and an email a week ago from the owner/founder of Gettysburg Battlefield Brew Works and the odds are that you've had something he's brewed before.

@CraftPittsburgh @BurghBeerSnob I am the head brewer @ Battlefield Brew Works in Gettysburg,PA. I was the Ast.Brewer at Rock Bottom PGH.
— Daniel Kulick (@dankulick) June 4, 2013

Kulick is a former assistant brewer at Rock Bottom in Homestead's Waterfront shopping complex and wanted to point out that (as I confirmed in the post linked earlier) the new brewery is in the same farm house as Gettysbrew was, but that's where the similarities end. I'm some out there can now take a collective deep breath.

"I've renovated the brewery and it's now an all-grain 14 BBL brewhouse where it was an all extract system previously," Kulick said in his email.

Not Blue and Gray. Blue and Butternut. As it should be

Kulick also added that one of the beers that will be apart of his lineup is a red ale called The Red Circle Ale. Proceeds from the brew will benefit members of the special operations (through the Red Circle Foundation) that have been injured in the line of duty as well as their family members.

Not only is the Brew Works going to dish out craft brews, there's also a distilling operation that's planned to begin by some time this fall. The distilling part of the operation will be called Spirits of Gettysburg. Gettysburg Battlefield Brew Works hopes to open this coming weekend and I hope to embark on my first visit some time this August.

I've always been on the look out for cleverly-named Civil War beers. Especially ones related to the Battle of Gettysburg. I'm hoping this is my opportunity to crack a smile while drinking a well-crafted brew along with understanding the significance behind the name of it. The opportunities are endless. Maybe some sort of a peach and wheat beer as in Sherfy's Peach Orchard or john rose's Wheatfield? General Doubleday's Doppelbock? Spangler's Spring Stout? Barksdale Blueberry Ale? Canister Cream Ale? I'll stop now. I'm such a geek.

My dream is to one day live in the Gettysburg area and possibly frequent a brewpub such as this. I want to be the Norm Peterson of such a pub, but remain at my current weight of 138 pounds!

Tiny Shoes to Fill

I don't usually pick up on things like this, but that's because I tend to get a little lazy. Tim Russell of Craft Pittsburgh Magazine is the complete opposite of me. Thus, he's usually on top of things like pending liquor licenses in Pennsylvania, new beer labels etc.

Thankfully he alerted me late last week of a pending license in Adams County for a place called Gettysburg Battlefield Brew Works. If I've linked this correctly, you should be able to view the pending license on the PLCB site.

@burghbeersnob Heard anything about a brewery/brewpub in Gettsburg? Brewpub license pending for Gettysburg Battlefield Brew Works LP.
— Craft Pittsburgh Mag (@CraftPittsburgh) April 21, 2013

I've spent an instant or two gushing about the beer scene in my favorite town on Earth. I even did a quick write-up and history lesson on Gettysburg's local edition of Appalachian Brewing Company the last time I visited.

Here's the kicker. If you've frequented the town/battlefield as I have you'll recognize the address of the supposed new brewpub. It's the same one of the now defunct Gettysbrew place that drew a ton of horrible reviews.

The building that housed Gettysbrew has always been there as it's one of the many historic landmarks in town. Gettysbrew was housed in the house of the old Monfort Farm. The farmhouse was used as a Confederate field hospital right after the battle.

I'm excited to see if the new place can get on its feet and off to a good start making some battle-related brews. The good thing is that the new brewpub doesn't have really big shoes to fill. I know this was last week's news, but I had to conveniently save this for today. The 150th anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville.