Battlefield Brew Works in Historic Gettysburg

Battlefield Brew Works, located in Gettysburg, PA about a half mile off Route 15, opened its doors in July 2013. Previously known to locals as Gettysbrew Restaurant and Brewery, it is located in a farmhouse on the historic W. H. Monfort Farm.

The brick farmhouse was built by Henry Monfort and his brother Jacob in the late 1840s. During the battle of Gettysburg, the Monfort Farm was used as a field hospital by Major General Edward Johnson’s Second Corps of the Confederate army. Over 1,300 wounded soldiers were brought from the battle at Culp’s Hill, making it one of the biggest Confederate hospitals.

Forty-seven of the men who died at the Monfort Farm were buried on the farm, and later disinterred to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. The farm remained in the Monfort family until around 1921.

Today, head brewer and co-owner Dan Kulick, along with his wife Kylie, have given the farmhouse new life. Dan brings over 15 years of brewing experience to the table.

A former homebrewer, he was the vice president of the A.L.C.Y. (Ales and Lagers Carbonated by Yeast) Homebrew club. His first commercial brewing job was for Rock Bottom Pittsburgh with Brewmaster Matthew Carroll.

As you approach Battlefield Brew Works from Hunterstown Road, you will notice the historic farmhouse and the brewery sign. Parking and the main entrance are located around back, and once you enter the building, you should head right to the bar for service.

The current beer list included five beers on tap and three beers on cask. Since it was St. Patrick’s Day weekend, many patrons were enjoying the Shamrock Irish Stout and the Bohemian Pilsner, which was colored green of course.

For me, the Red Circle Ale was a stand out. This 5.2% ABV lightly hopped red ale was not only delicious, but part of the profits go to The Red Circle Foundation, which supports injured Special Operations men and women of the armed forces.

The Farmhouse Pale Ale (FPA), a light bodied farmhouse style pale ale with hints of spice, offered bright aromas and flavors of citrus from Mandarinia Bavaria hops. These new German experimental hops were used during the brewing process as well as during dry-hopping.

On cask, the Robert E. Lee IPA was rich and malty with a huge hop aroma. The Extreme Hop Artillery Imperial IPA was described as a “hop head’s delight.”

There are two types of flights available. A sample of four regular beers comes in at $7, or for $10 you can try the four regulars plus two imperials or casks. You can take beer to go as well, with a new growler and a fill costing you $20 ($8 more for casks). Refills cost $12. If you’re a local, there is a Mug Club that you can join for $25.

Battlefield also offers house made root beer and ginger ale for the non-beer drinkers. Good Intent Cider is also on the menu, but don’t get caught off guard by this hard cider. It clocks in at 10% ABV, and it was aged in bourbon barrels. Brookmere wines are also available.

A small kitchen area behind the bar serves up simple foods, which can be ordered at the bar and delivered to your table.

Snacks like fried pickles, soft pretzels and mozzarella sticks are available, as well as meals including gourmet sausages such as a smoked elk sausage with jalapeño and cheddar and a wild boar sausage with apricot and cranberry. There’s also beer battered fish, a black bean and corn quesadilla, and bison wieners (the menu says, “go ahead and laugh”).

Dan hopes to eventually add a bottling line and distribution. They recently added distilling equipment to the property, and the distillery will be named Spirits of Gettysburg Distillery.

The historic atmosphere makes this brewery experience something special. The beers are well crafted, and the crowd is welcoming. Check their Facebook page for new beers on tap, specials, and bands performing live at the brewery.

Check out… this clip of Battlefield Brew Works on the Discovery Channel’s BarHunters.