Gettysburg: Beer, Wine, and History Guided Walking Tour

Gettysburg’s battlefields can feel solemn, so this 90-minute pub walk offers a lighter way to connect with the town. You’ll hear Civil War stories in local alehouses, sample drinks at several stops, and visit places that most battlefield tours skip. I like the mix of history and ordinary local life, especially the veteran-owned Tattered Flag Taproom and the patio stop at Fourscore Beer Co. The main drawback is the brisk pace: five stops in 90 minutes leaves little time to linger.

I also like that the guide does more than pour drinks. Guides such as Silver and Hannah have been praised for making small groups feel personal, answering questions, and pointing you toward good drink choices. Keep in mind that food costs extra, hard liquor is not included, and the route is not a good fit if walking is difficult.

Key points at a glance

• Five pub and drink stops: The route may include Ploughman Cider Taproom, Dawg Gone Bees, J&P Winery, Blue & Gray Bar and Grill, plus other local venues.
• One drink at each stop: Beer, cider, wine, and nonalcoholic choices such as cream soda may be available, but no hard liquor is included.
• Gettysburg stories away from the battlefield: Your guide connects local bars and taverns with the 1863 battle.
• Small-group feel when numbers are low: Silver and Hannah have both led highly personal tours for groups of only two people.
• Food is separate: Plan to buy your own fried snacks or bar food, especially at Fourscore Beer Co.
• Rain or shine: Wear comfortable shoes and be ready to walk outdoors in changing weather.

Why pair Gettysburg history with local drinks?

Gettysburg is best known for its battlefield, cemetery, and military history. Those places matter, but they can also make for a quiet and heavy afternoon. This tour gives you another way to understand the town, one that includes taprooms, neighborhood bars, small producers, and stories told over a drink.

I like this approach because it puts history in a normal setting. Instead of standing only at monuments, you may hear about the 1863 battle while sitting at a veteran-owned taproom or visiting a tavern with ghost stories tied to the area. The setting is casual, but the history is meant to be well researched and credible.

You also get a look at Gettysburg’s current food and drink scene. The tasting choices can range from local beer and cider to chocolate cherry wine, apple whiskey, and cream soda. The ticket does not include hard liquor, so the apple whiskey reference should not be read as a guaranteed whiskey pour. Think of it as a tour with varied drink possibilities, not a fixed tasting menu.

Starting at The Brickhouse Inn

The meeting point is the backyard of The Brickhouse Inn Bed & Breakfast at 452 Baltimore Street. You should arrive ready to begin on foot and bring identification, since this is an age-restricted activity.

Do not park in the inn’s back lot. Those spaces are reserved for overnight customers, and unauthorized cars may be towed. Use public spaces on nearby side streets or main streets instead. This small detail matters because a parking problem can spoil an otherwise easy evening.

The tour is conducted in English. Since availability changes, check the starting time when you book. A 90-minute duration makes it fairly easy to fit into a day of sightseeing, but the short schedule also means you should not expect a long sit-down at every pub.

Five stops, five different moods

The tour is described as visiting five pubs, though the named alcohol producers include Ploughman Cider Taproom, Dawg Gone Bees, J&P Winery, and Blue & Gray Bar and Grill. The exact order and final stop can vary, so treat the route as a guided sample of Gettysburg’s drinking spots rather than a fixed flight with guaranteed pours.

At each stop, one drink is included. That could mean beer, cider, wine, or another permitted beverage. You can buy additional drinks if you wish, but you should budget for them separately. Cash is also recommended, which is useful for small purchases and bar snacks.

Fourscore Beer Co.

Fourscore Beer Co. is a key pause on the route. The attraction here is the outdoor patio, where you can enjoy an included drink and buy fried food while getting some sun. This is the sort of stop that works well after walking through central Gettysburg, since it gives you a chance to sit down without turning the tour into a full meal.

The tradeoff is that food is not part of the $98 price. If you want the patio experience to include something to eat, plan on paying extra. I would also avoid arriving overly full, since the fried-food stop is one of the few chances to add a substantial snack during a short tasting walk.

Tattered Flag Taproom

Tattered Flag is described as a vintage, 16-stool taproom and a veteran-owned venue. That combination gives the stop a more personal feel than a large restaurant bar. Your guide may tell Civil War stories while you drink like a local, which is exactly the kind of setting this tour is trying to create.

Only 16 stools means the space is intimate. That can be a plus for a small group, but it may feel tight if the tour arrives during a busy period. The limited seating also reinforces the need to keep the visit moving, since this is one stop among several.

Ploughman Cider Taproom

Ploughman Cider Taproom brings a different style of drink to the route. Cider is a useful change of pace if you do not want every stop to be beer. It also gives the guide a chance to explain how drinks are produced rather than simply handing you a glass.

The tour includes a guided drink visit here, but the supplied details do not promise a specific cider or production demonstration. You may hear about the process and local offerings, but do not book this expecting a full brewery tour or a long technical tasting.

Dawg Gone Bees

Dawg Gone Bees adds another local producer to the route. Its inclusion helps make the tour more than a run through ordinary bars. You are sampling different kinds of small-scale drink culture while moving through Gettysburg’s historic center.

Because the schedule is only 90 minutes, each stop is likely to be brief. If you prefer slow tastings, detailed production talks, or time to compare several pours, this may feel too quick. If you want an introduction to several places without arranging separate visits, the format makes sense.

J&P Winery

J&P Winery is the wine stop, with possibilities such as chocolate cherry wine mentioned among the drink choices. That kind of flavored wine may appeal to visitors who want something playful and distinctly different from beer and cider.

Wine preferences vary widely, so you should not assume every pour will suit your taste. The value here is variety. The guide can help you choose, and the tour keeps the wine stop connected to the rest of the town rather than treating it as a formal winery visit.

Blue & Gray Bar and Grill

Blue & Gray Bar and Grill ties the pub theme most directly to Civil War identity. The name itself reflects the opposing uniforms of the Union and Confederate armies, making it a natural place for local stories and conversation.

You may also find food here, but your ticket covers the drink tour, not meals. If you have dietary needs or want a full dinner, ask about the available food when you arrive and plan to pay separately.

The history works best in local rooms

The strongest idea behind this experience is the setting. Gettysburg has no shortage of formal historical information, but a guide can make the past easier to absorb when the story unfolds over a drink and a snack.

Your guide may connect a tavern, a street, or a local business with the Civil War period. The tour also includes a haunted tavern just off the battlefield, where ghost stories add a little theatrical edge. This is not presented as a pure ghost tour, so expect history first and spooky atmosphere second.

The guide matters a great deal here. Silver has led particularly personal outings, including tours with only two people. She has been described as friendly, funny, well informed about Gettysburg, and good at recommending drinks. Hannah has also received praise for making a small private group feel tailored to its interests.

Group size is not guaranteed, but a small group can change the whole experience. You can ask more questions, move more easily between stops, and get direct suggestions from the guide. A larger group may feel less intimate, especially in a 16-seat taproom.

What $98 gets you

At $98 per person, this is not the cheapest way to have a few drinks in Gettysburg. You are paying for more than the alcohol: the guide, the historical storytelling, entry to several venues, and the convenience of moving between stops without planning the route yourself.

The value depends on how much you want the guided context. If you would happily visit two or three bars on your own, the price may feel high. If you want a planned route with one drink at each stop and a guide who can explain the town as you go, the cost is easier to justify.

Remember to allow extra money for food and additional drinks. The ticket includes one drink per stop, but not meals. It also excludes hard liquor, so do not choose this activity as a spirits tasting.

Who will enjoy this walk?

I would recommend it most to adults who want a social, informal way to learn about Gettysburg. It suits couples, friends, and small groups who like local drinks but do not want a full-day historical lecture.

It is also useful early in your visit. The guide can introduce you to several local venues and help you decide where you may want to return later. The wine slushy stop mentioned by one participant, located near Rita’s, shows how the route can include small shops and casual discoveries alongside the better-known drinking spots.

You should choose another activity if your main goal is a detailed battlefield tour. This experience includes Civil War history and references to the battlefields, but it is built around pubs and producers. You should also skip it if you cannot walk comfortably or if you are under 21.

Comfortable shoes are essential. The tour takes place rain or shine, and some of the appeal comes from moving through town rather than sitting indoors for the entire 90 minutes. Bring a passport or ID card, plus cash. Smoking and video recording are not allowed.

How to make the most of the 90 minutes

Eat lightly before you arrive, but leave room for bar snacks at Fourscore or another stop. Since food is not included, you can decide as you go whether a fried snack or a fuller meal makes sense.

Ask your guide questions early. A small group gives you the best chance to shape the conversation around local history, haunted places, beer making, cider, or wine. Silver has a reputation for answering questions and matching drink suggestions to individual tastes, but the guide on your date may be different.

Do not expect every stop to offer a long tasting. Five venues in 90 minutes is a quick rhythm. The point is to sample the character of several places, not to spend half an hour at each one.

If the weather is poor, bring suitable clothing rather than assuming the tour will be canceled. The route runs rain or shine, and outdoor patio time may be less appealing in wet or cold conditions.

Should you book this Gettysburg tour?

Book it if you want local drinks, Civil War stories, and a short walking route in one package. The guide is the heart of the experience, and names such as Silver and Hannah have been linked with warm, personal outings. The range of stops also gives you more variety than a standard pub crawl.

Think twice if you want a serious brewery lesson, a full meal, a spirits tasting, or a slow afternoon at one venue. At $98, the tour makes the most sense when you value the guide and the historical connections as much as the drinks. For an adult who wants Gettysburg to feel a little less formal and a lot more local, it is a practical choice.

FAQ

How long does the Gettysburg Beer, Wine, and History Guided Walking Tour last?

The tour lasts 90 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $98 per person.

How many drinks are included?

The ticket includes one drink at each stop. The tour is described as visiting five pubs, though the exact route may vary.

Is hard liquor included?

No. Hard liquor is not included.

Which drink producers are included?

The named producers and venues are Ploughman Cider Taproom, Dawg Gone Bees, J&P Winery, and Blue & Gray Bar and Grill.

Is food included in the ticket?

No. Food is not included, so you should pay separately for snacks or meals.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet in the backyard of The Brickhouse Inn Bed & Breakfast at 452 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.

Can I park at The Brickhouse Inn?

No. The inn’s back lot is reserved for overnight customers, and unauthorized vehicles may be towed. Public parking is available on nearby side streets and main streets.

Is the tour suitable for people under 21?

No. The tour is not suitable for anyone under 21.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, and cash. The tour operates rain or shine.