That Settled Matters in His Mind

Continuing back on the Civil War theme from late last week, which has been known to make a few appearances on this blog once in a while. I usually plan on making a week's worth of posts relating beer/drinking to Gettysburg when we get closer to the anniversary each year, but I had a slight epiphany over the weekend and that was once again on the topic of Pennsylvania heroes and whether or not they should have a beer named after them today.

A lot of people don't know it, but John F. Reynolds is one of the more important Pennsylvanians to ever call the Commonwealth home. Born in Lancaster in 1820 and rose to the commander of the First Corps of the Federal Army before falling on the first day at Gettysburg at the age of 42.

Historians argue that he was one of the main people that saw the value of the Gettysburg terrain and was integral in the armies meeting there for one of the most epic clashes on North American soil. One of the most recent books I've read claimed that Reynolds is pretty much the one that decided the field. I've mentioned Allen Guelzo's book The Last Invasion a number of times on this blog. Here's one of my favorite passages around the time of the supposed meeting at the Seminary Cupola on the morning of the first day's fighting.

"That settled matters in Reynolds' mind, and he delivered to his aides a short volley of orders and messages that put the final seal on the battle. First, to Meade at Taneytown, a verbal notice to be carried by Capt. Stephen Weld: "Ride at once at your utmost speed" - even if it killed his horse - "to General Meade; tell him the enemy are advancing in strong force and that I fear they will get to the heights beyond the town before I can. I will fight them inch by inch and if driven into town, I will barricade the streets and hold them back as long as possible." He then added for Meade, almost as an afterthought, While I am aware that it is not your desire to force an engagement at that point, still I feel at liberty to advance and develop the strength of the enemy. Then, to Abner Doubleday: "I will hold on to the Chambersburg Road," while "you must hold on to the Millersville Road." Third, to Otis Howard. "he had encountered the enemy in force" and Howard was "to bring your corps forward as rapidly as possible." And finally to Dan Sickles and the III Corps, even more concisely, "Tell General Sickles I think he had better come up." This would leave Meade with no choice. Once Reynolds had committed three of Meade's seven infantry corps to Gettysburg, Meade could not refuse to support him with the other four."

I mentioned earlier about the "supposed meeting" meaning that it's more likely that in the fury of the opening battles and with time of the essence that the meeting between Reynolds and John Buford didn't play out the way it's been dramatized over the years. I've always been told that Reynolds aides swore that it all transpired somewhere in the vicinity of McPherson's Ridge.

I've got goosebumps and chills upon listening to a moving piece of music or certain movies, but it's been rare to encounter such a case when it comes to reading. Well, it happened the first time I took that excerpt in. The great sons and daughters of Pennsylvania are already honored in other unique ways. William Penn is on the Quaker Oats label, Andy Warhol is one everything and Fred Rogers is still a role model to families everywhere even though he's no longer with us.

The Reynolds monument just inside the gate of the Soldiers' Cemetery.

I know we have monuments to pay homage to historical figures. Reynolds is on at least three monuments prominently at Gettysburg alone that I know of. My point here today is why not a beer?  That also brings me to another point - Shipyard brews Chamberlain Pale ale named for Joshua Chamberlain who conveniently, for my argument, was also a hero at Gettysburg and is arguably Maine's biggest hero in the war.

Why the hell not? As far as I know, there isn't one named for Reynolds among the Pennsylvania brewers as of yet. I feel that Lancaster Brewing should get first dibs. Hear me out!

Holy Thursday: Indulge in More Than Just Text

"Turneth the page of said scripture, indulge in more of what you chose to indulge."

I'll tell you what. These seem to get more and more obscure each week as I make them up. Good beer goes with almost anything. Family gatherings, before and during sporting events or paired with a good meal. Sometimes you can even use it to enhance relaxing situations. One of my favorites is having a few while reading a good book. If you know me well enough you know by now that I just don't mean a book. I mean a history book.

My obsession with things and people in history is well-known. So, when I say "history book" you've got good odds if you are familiar with my historical sub-obsession and guess Gettysburg. I can sometimes get on a roll with reading about the genre and having a few good beers go perfectly with doing so. I can evenly pace myself between drinks. I usually take a sip every so number of pages. It's amazing relaxation. The only thing being exerted or stimulated is the mind. You're interacting with your book as well as enjoying the intricacies of the beer you're drinking.

I've done myself a disservice by not keeping up on my reading and for that I'm not too happy about. I guess many factors can be attributed as to why. A completely new schedule to start the new year is the main culprit.

I gave the forgotten relaxing scenario some thought this week and it even caused me to miss being in Adams County. I only get a certain number of days when I get the chance to go, but boy do I miss it. How I miss the battlefield, the quaintness of the town and the growing beer scene. Oh, and the new Battlefield Brew Works just off of the York Road which has been growing mightily if you follow the Facebook page.

I just love how those two interests of mine have become forever intertwined. I was born to have both play integral roles in my life and to be able to sit and enjoy both is great. Not only were both interests passed down in my family, but the battle was one that I took to early as a child. It also helped that the film adaptation of The Killer Angels came out during my childhood years. The film reignited interest on the battlefield and also provided us with some great music. Check out this piece that wasn't on the original soundtrack. It took me years to finally find what it was.


So, this weekend I intend on continuing the tradition of reading and beer.

Beer Review: Battlefield Brew Works Red Circle Ale

Serving Type: Draft

ABV: 5.2 percent

Appearance: Red Circle Ale appeared to be the second-darkest brew available at the Gettysburg establishment that I constantly bring up. This beer was as close to a dark brick red as it could be without actually looking like a brown ale. A few ruby red portions of the brew were also noticeable to the eye. The dark color of the brew disguised the appearance of any carbonation bubbles. The head was just short of being called a beige. I'd go with an off-white to describe it best. The head featured a layer of foam that was about a half-inch thick, but faded back into the beer quickly leaving some thin lacing.

Smell: This beer seemed to be a bit deeper and sweeter than than its amber counterpart I reviewed last week. This too had plenty of caramel and roasted malt undertones. Wait, I don't mean undertones. They were the co-stars of this beer's aroma. There was a slight hop nose that nicely complimented the two dominant scents.

Taste: The caramel and roasted notes were prevalent once again once I began drinking this. Those two flavors were very complimentary in there own respective roles, but were slightly weaker than they were in the smell of this. The hops work well with the other two for a slightly bitter and well-balanced finish. 

Overall Rating: 

I enjoyed how this version of the amber was a little more balanced. Still, I'd like to see a head with some more staying power as well as just a kiss of more strength in the flavor. Still, this was a quality brew. I also love this place as well as the town it's close to. So, I can feel quite comfortable giving this the rating I did.

Growth and Odd Contraptions

Last year I returned from my annual Gettysburg excursion and posted about how I felt the eastern side of Pennsylvania knew how to eat and the western side knew how to drink. I based all of this on my disappointment in the Gettysburg beer selection. Alas, I stood corrected by many and my trip last week surely contradicted my claim this year.

I've already spent some time this week detailing how the craft beer community has grown in the Gettysburg area. This is probably my last post explaining the subject. I also visited the Blue and Gray Bar and Grill last year and did once again this year. The bar is in the famous square in the dead center of Gettysburg. The craft selection within the bar has improved in this establishment as well.

I had to pose the Dogfish 60 Minute in front of it.

Last year, I came across a bit from Troegs and Roy Pitz from nearby Chambersburg. I'm pleased to report a tad more this time around. Not only that, but Dogfish Head Craft Brewery had a few appearances on the draft list as well.

I'm not entirely sure whether or not there was a beer-to-go cooler at Blue and Gray last summer, but I definitely noticed it this time. The cooler was stuffed full of six packs from Troegs just north of Gettysburg and a brewery called Starr Hill which I discovered is out of Virginia. Maybe some North vs. South action? A few of the Starr Hill offering found a way on the draft system. One was a pumpkin porter. Despite my feelings on pumpkin beer in the summer, I found this exciting.

Still, the table I was seated at had an interesting gadget built into it. Something I've never seen or heard of before. I had noticed it upon walking past the place and assumed it was just part of the bar's draft system. I was only half right.

Apparently it's something called a table tap. I'm not certain as to how it would work at other places, but at Blue and Gray you would get a wristband that gets scanned by the machine. You would fill your own glass of beer and the machine keeps track of how much was dispensed. Very interesting. I haven't seen many of these elsewhere nor around the places I frequent here in Pittsburgh.

Beer Review: Battlefield Brew Works Hop Artillery Amber

Serving Type: Draft

ABV: 6.8 percent

Appearance: Hop Artillery Amber poured a glowing ruby red with a few brown and amber highlights glistening elsewhere throughout the body. The brew was crowned with a slightly off-white head that was about a finger's width and had some very decent staying power. The head remained approximately a quarter inch thick most of the way down and left ample lacing inside the glass. The lacing wasn't thick and foamy, but thin. Still, this was very attractive to see.

Smell: This had a few strong hints of citrus from the dry hopping that took place. According to the Brew Works' website, this beer is dry hopped with both Amaris and Citra hops. The hoppiness of this was somewhat pungent, but in no way got in the way of the roasty and caramel undertones of the malt.

Taste: The tip of my tongue caught some sweet caramel and sweet, yet roasted malt notes. The hops acted in an interesting way in the brew. They provided a nice citrus flavor as well as some nice bite on the finish. The noticeable citrus made this one of those beers that makes me a bigger fan of dry-hopped brews. The head of the beer that remained provided a creamy kiss as the beer went down. I didn't notice much carbonation present, but the smoothness of the head made up for that in the texture department.

Overall Rating: 

I really enjoyed having this beer. If I could change anything, it would be more balance in flavor. The hops and citrus notes from said hops are a little more present than the other typical characteristics of an Amber Ale. I do prefer a little more maltiness in these, but since the entire purpose of this beer is to up the hop content a tad, I can't knock it too much. Still, the zing in this brew was quite appetizing.

A Meeting Months in the Making

Thus it began. Well-crafted beer pouring from taps in a barn formerly used as a Civil War hospital. I've been harping about it for months and this past weekend I was finally united with Gettysburg Battlefield Brew Works currently in the barn of the historic Monfort Farm just off of Gettysburg's York Road. I was so excited that I chose the night of my 25th birthday to visit the joint.

Now, I've been to the Monfort barn prior to this. Years ago I went with my father to have dinner when it was called Gettysbrew. There are still a few remnants of the former brewpub that everyone hated. There's still a Gettysbrew stained glass window above the entrance and the kitchen downstairs isn't operable as of yet. According to owner and head brewer Dan Kulick, the kitchen was simply vacated and left in disrepair and the beer tanks were left with beer in them. There it sat for seven years before Kulick bought the place and performed the type of miracle only found in scripture.

The bar is made from trees on the Monfort Farm.

As for the kitchen, Kulick is looking for a chef to eventually join the team to help expand the menu, an investor to help infuse the kitchen or someone that can help with both. For right now, the kitchen resides in the bar area and the menu consists of some gourmet sausages as well as soft pretzels. I had the elk sausage with jalapeno and cheddar inside it. Each meal is served with a side of potato chips. It was apparent to me that despite the disadvantages in the kitchen/bar area the food still comes out looking appetizing and tastes great.

The beer is the crown jewel of Battlefield Brew Works. Aside from the Monfort barn itself, the beer should be in relation to the food. Kulick has two IPA's on cask which are both IPA's. I set my eyes on a few of the regular draft offerings as I'm not the world's biggest hop fan. I began with the Hop Artillery Amber which has all the usual characteristics of an amber ale, but has a little more hop bite as usual. I also was able to have a pint glass of the Red Circle American Red Ale which helps to benefit members of our armed forces. It was sweet and malty, but also had an interesting zip to it on the finish.

I will try to review the two I just mentioned, but won't be able to do one for the Pennsylvania Dutch Style Smoked Porter which I only tasted. I was worried that the smokiness would scare me away, but I must admit that it was nice and mild. It was almost creamy. Kulick just began production on a new pumpkin beer as well.

I think the atmosphere for the place speaks for itself. The building itself is a great piece of history. If that doesn't get your senses tingling I don't know what will. The beer tanks peak just through the floor on on the bar end of the barn which reminded me of the altar at Church Brew Works, but in its own historic sort of way. There's still work to be done. My opinion on that is that it's not perfect, but the advantage of where this place is means that it doesn't have to be. That's what is so unique about the location and that barn.

I really enjoyed this place and truly hope it has the opportunity to grown before my next visit to Gettysburg. Battlefield Brew Works has a Facebook profile/page that has updates and I hope to see it appear in the Twitter world at some point! I hope to have my next two beer reviews as the two I mentioned drinking glasses of in this post.

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.

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.

A History Lesson at Appalachian Brewing

Let's say you're touring the Gettysburg Battlefield and the heat is fairly brutal, which it usually is this time of the year. Not far from where the Confederates first stepped foot into the battlefield (just off of Buford Avenue) is an exquisite watering hole that not only brews its own beer, it provides you with a happy and full stomach.

As far as I've checked, Appalachian Brewing in Gettysburg features the most tapped brews (16 beers) at a time anywhere in town.

If you check out this place regularly, you'll notice that most of Appalachian Brewing's flagship brews are featured on tap as often as possible. These flagships include the infamous Mountain Lager (4.5 percent ABV), Water Gap Wheat (4.5 percent ABV) and Susquehanna Stout (4.6 percent ABV) just to name a few. If you're not in the mood for beer, be sure to try the homemade root, ginger and birch beers.

There is also some excellent food to pair your beers with at this place. If you're in the mood for a light lunch with whomever you're eating with, just grab a couple appetizers. I can vouch for both the pretzel logs, which comes with beer mustard to dip, and the Canadian Poutine, which is fries, gravy and cheese curds.

The menu also provides a wide selection of paninis and sandwiches. I've even been there at lunch and found numerous wraps and hoagies on a select lunch special menu.

If you want something heartier than that, the Brewer's Mac n' Cheese is the closest thing I've ever had to Rock Bottom's chicken mac n' cheese dish. Don't forget about the Mile-High Meatloaf or any of Appalachian's burgers.

I went with the BBQ Clucker sandwich.

You honestly can't go wrong here if you're a first-time visitor to Gettysburg. Go for lunch or dinner. Hell, One of the days last week in which I was there, I used up two of my meals at Appalachian Brewing. Appalachian is based in Harrisburg, but it also has pubs/restaurants in Collegeville and Camp Hill aside from this one in Gettysburg.

I've never had a beer that I didn't like from Appalachian. I wanted to get this write-up in as soon as I could before I started to review some of the beers I've tried. A few of them are among the best brews I've ever tasted.

I almost forgot to give you a brief history lesson I planned on sharing with you all. History is just feet from Appalachian Brewing's doorway. Arguably the most famous picture of the entire Civil War was taken just right across the street from the establishment, on Seminary Ridge.

The three Confederate prisoners stood next to what is now the stonewall as you turn onto Seminary Avenue.

Beer Snob Visits Blue and Gray Bar and Grill

Granted, the main square in downtown Gettysburg can be very difficult to navigate if you've never driven in a town circle before. Aside from that, if you can get yourself a decent parking place you can just walk to the northernmost corner of Baltimore Street and the circle to one of Gettysburg's newest bar/food additions.

After noticing that it was new as I arrived in town last week I did a bit of research on what this place was. Since the establishment is so new there isn't a completed website yet, but I did come across a feature story on it in Hanover's The Evening Sun.

It was then that I noticed two key things that Blue and Gray literally brought to the table. Its menu features 12 "Battlefield Burgers" that are named after generals that participated in the Battle of Gettysburg and 25 wing sauces/rubs named after certain military units that also fought in the battle.

The burgers are designed to emulate the general that it's named for and where they're from. A few good examples are that the General George Meade is a burger that's have burger and half cheesesteak as he is from Phiadelphia. The General Lewis A. Armistead gives your burger a helping of Carolina BBQ pulled pork as he is from North Carolina. The General John Fulton Reynolds puts a corn fritter on top of your beef patty since he was born in Lancaster. Get the drift?

I was coaxed into getting the General James Longstreet. Longstreet is from South Carolina, where apparently peanut butter and bacon is pretty popular. If you put two and two together you can see where I'm going with this one.Also, each burger comes out with a flag stuck in it. The version of the flag depends on what side your general falls on.

The caramelized onions were a perfect compliment. Awesome burger.

The Blue and Gray Bar and Grill also features a decent beer list that provides you with a taste of local brewing. Multiple Troegs, Roy Pitz and Lancaster beers can be found here to help you wash down whatever you choose from this fruitful menu.'

I can't forget about the aforementioned wings. The battle theme continues with wing flavors named 20th Maine (blueberry chipotle), Peach Orchard (peach habanero) and Irish Brigade (raspberry jalapeno). According to the bar's Twitter feed, there is also a Yuengling and chicken wing special ($5 pitchers and $.50 wings) that we are very accustomed to seeing around here.

All Roads Lead to Gettysburg

Tomorrow marks yet another one of my annual trips to Gettysburg National Military Park. Being the history buff that I am, I know that the saying "all roads lead to Gettysburg" held true on those three epic days in 1863. As easy as it was to fully concentrate an army in that day and age, it also appears that the town is also an excellent convergence point of fine beer and food.

McPherson barn along McPherson Ridge on the first day's field.

It gets pretty hot when you're east of the Blue Ridge and after a day of touring/studying some of America's most hallowed ground, you definitely want something refreshing towards the evening.

The town features some of the best period dining in all of Pennsylvania at both the Dobbin House Tavern, which features colonial-style items on its menu, and the Farnsworth House Inn, which gives patrons an 1863 dinner experience.

In terms of food, Gettysburg is in perfect position to dish out recipes from the Pennsylvania Dutch in the north as well as some Chesapeake seafood in the South.

As for beer, Troegs Brewing Company is right up the road in Harrisburg/Hershey. Troegs is arguably Pennsylvania's second most popular brewer, as well as my personal favorite, behind Yuengling & Son and will surely have most of the local bars stocked with many of my favorite brews.

Flying Dog Brewery is just to the South, out of Frederick. We also can't forget that just up Route 30 (or the Chambersburg Pike as we history buffs call it) is Hauser Estate Winery which provides the world with the infamous Jack's Hard Cider.

Appalachian Brewing Company has one of it's microbrewery/restaurants just off of Buford Avenue and right next to the house that General Robert E. Lee designated as his headquarters. There's plenty to eat and drink in Gettysburg.

This week might be somewhat abbreviated in terms of posts since I'm embarking on this trip. I will try to have a beer review for tomorrow's post and will try to document as much as possible the food and drink I come across while out east. Make sure you're tuning into my Twitter feed this weekend while I'm there. I'll also try to incorporate some of what I experience into a post or two for next week.