Libations and Comradery
Yesterday I began my day by strolling through my garden and encouraging my broccoli and caulliflower to grow. It was a mellow morning that quickly transformed into a scorcher. At the height of the day the temperature reached a sultry 92 degrees at a time when the average should have been 70 degrees. This is nowhere near the steamy 100+ degrees in our southwest or the 110+ degrees in the subcontinent of India - but still, a very good day to drink beer.
On the first and third Saturdays of every month I and my good friend John Fetchen meet at the local library under the organizational guise of Gamesboro (any and all are welcome!). Yesterday was no different. We settled into our second game of STEAM, a wonderful design covering the Canal and Railroad stages of the Industrial Revolution in England. Didn’t get to finish though … there was beer to drink.
Another good friend, Jim Callahan arrived from Philadelphia along with my son John from Baltimore, the four of us, my good-natured, fun-loving wife included, set out on a beverage tasting tour of our little town. It’s an event that we are eager to support and promote. Between the hours of 1:00-3:00 p.m. we used the provided map to traipse to eleven nearby locations where we sampled brews, wines, ciders and the many, many fine products from our local distilleries.
The highlights for me were:
the Battlefield Brew Works Brewery - a fine “Smokin’ Barrel IPA.”
Spirits of Gettysburg Distillery - Old Hero Bourbon (extra smooth - I was about to buy a bottle until I tasted their Rye Smile Rye Whiskey, a phenominal spirit … which I did purchase!)
Lake House Distillery - (Our own local folks) Their fine Salted Caramel Vodka had plenty of zip.
Reid’s Orchard’s Winery - Mango Madness - holy cow, mango infused grapes and soooooo tasty.
Rough Edges Brewery - Cognizant Ignorance Hazy IPA
Cold Spring Hollow Distillery - Sweetfire Sippin Shine - Like drinking liquid red hots with a kick! Had to purchase a bottle of this as well.
Roy Pitz Brewing - Best Blonde Ale
And 633 Brewing - Billy Bob American Ale.
In between our tippling we wandered through several wonderfully eclectic, antique stores where I bought a miniature toy figure of Teddy Roosevelt (I love to collect small hand-held toys. I arrange them around my computer and play with them during moments of writer’s block) Jim purchased a vintage beer tray - appropriate to the theme of the day. We ended our celebration of all things alcoholic by having dinner at Nikki’s, a newly opened Japanese Noodle restaurant in town. A delicious finale. Getting to love our little town of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania more and more every year.
Come Visti!