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.

Do Yourself a Favor

Throughout all of my craft beer adventures in the Commonwealth two places have stuck out and have proved to make me giddy for each of their respective brews. Oh, and I should mention the food as well! Both of these establishments were fun and interesting to be at. Great atmospheres as well as good beer. Be sure to check them out when you get the chance. Well, there has been some news concerning each in the past week or so.

Roll Out! Roll Out!

The beginnings of my craft beer tastes (or microbrews as we referred to them in my early college years) might have begun to develop after sampling some of the brews offered at North Country Brewing Company in Slippery Rock.

We've known for about a year that the brewery had expanded from just the morgue turned brewpub and into a full-scale brewing facility south of Slippery Rock. It feels as if we've been waiting for kegs and cans of North Country beer to hit the local markets here in Pittsburgh for almost an eternity.

Within the last week kegs of North Country brews have reached many Pittsburgh bars. North Country has been trying to update the locations in which said brews are offered on its Facebook page. The roll out is finally looking to be happening. Still no word on cans being sold in distributors, but I'm sure that's close to happening as well.

I met a friend at OTB Bicycle Cafe on the South Side just over a week ago and he snapped a good photo of a North Country Tap Handle. The beer was in. It just wasn't tapped yet. This was for the new Buck Up Black Pale Ale. I don't remember ever having that while in school. So, it looks like they';re still being creative as possible with their brews.

My buddy, Zack, also spotted more NCB on the North side via his Twitter account.

Needing a Larger Shoe Size

Back in August I visited Gettysburg Battlefield Brew Works after months of anticipation. I was fascinated at the fact of drinking great beer in what was a former Confederate field hospital at the time of the battle in 1863. Things were obviously still getting started when I was there. I've been following the Brew Works on Facebook  (I've also found them on Twitter) and things have seemed to be picking up amazingly. There is now consistent live entertainment as well as some barbecue food offerings from a local Gettysburg eatery.

I've been writing about the place constantly. From when I first heard about the pending liquor license (and the reason I have the odd subhead just above) and when I finally got to visit for the first time on my yearly excursion to Gettysburg.

More importantly, the Brew Works made an appearance on the Discovery Channel's Bar Hunters show. I missed the episode on Sunday and I've never watched the show before. So, I'm not entirely sure if the episode was dedicated in full or it was just a segment. Still, I was able to embed a video I found on the Discovery website.

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.

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.

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.