I’d been trying to get to Tired Hands Brewing Company for months, and finally found an excuse to go. After checking out the Oscar nominated film Amour at Bryn Mawr Film Institute, we decided to live our lives each day to the fullest, so we made the short drive down Route 30 and pulled onto Ardmore Avenue. To our right, sat the small two floor brewpub that has been making waves in the beer scene since opening last year.
One step inside, and we felt the rustic vibe. Every spot at the bar and all the tables were taken on the first floor, but a server pointed us to the steps for the second floor. Out of all the brewpubs I’ve visited locally, Tired Hands Brewing possibly has the most character of all. The building looks as though it has been rehabbed, but brick walls and wooden beams highlight this rustic feel. Choice spot lighting creates an ambience that matches the excellent beer.
We found one of the few remaining open tables on the second floor and a short time later, a rather harried waiter stopped by with a beer menu. When we asked about the food, he pointed to the chalkboard menu over the stairs. This turned into another clue that Tired Hands is first and foremost about the beer. From our seats, we couldn’t read the details of the food offerings, so we had to go stand next to a romantic couple’s table to decide on our foodie selections.
This is not your typical bar food menu, which is to be applauded. Tired Hands offers a selection of artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and… paninis? Yes, paninis are the main course. After reading the menu, I returned to my table to find a friend digitally joked on my Foursquare check-in, “Good beers. Enjoy a panini. LOL!”
We started off with the cheese. Not just any cheese, but the delectable Birchrun Hills Fat Cat, a semi-soft cheese that was tangy. The texture reminded my date of a brie with not as much of a bite. The cheese was served with bread and a compote that was tangy, tasting a bit like apple butter and figs. Is one allowed to order seconds on compote?
For dinner, we decided to order—paninis! All joking aside though, The Hamerican Dream (pictured below) was actually quite delicious. A gooey Cherry Grove Buttercup Brie was melted with a slightly salty Green Meadow Ham, and completed with Belgian Endive and Apple Mostarda.
My date sampled the Lancaster Bologna and Cheese Panini (pictured below), made with a smoked cheddar. I believe it is the first time in all my years that I’ve ever taken a date out for a bologna sandwich dinner. She didn’t seem to mind though, and our paninis were a fine accompaniment to the true stars of Tired Hands—the beer!
I started off with a FarmHands Saison (below, right), which is their four grain saison. Brewed with rye, oats, wheat and Cascade hops, this had a slight citrus taste that danced on the tongue. At 4.8%, it is a beer you’ll want seconds of—and I did! Very smooth.
My date sampled the HeavenDream (below, left), a light pale ale that zinged from the Meyer lemon zest/juice. This ale is fermented with PA wildflower honey, and would make a perfect summer drink that has lemon taste.
I also decided to sample a bit of the barleywine. Called the MotherAnimal, this comes in at a killer 11.5% so I only imbibed with a small sample. Brewed with Vienna malt, along with caramel malts and even a bit of chocolate malt, this makes for an excellent winter warmer, sipping in front of a roaring fire.
We enjoyed our visit to Tired Hands Brewing Company, and hope to return soon to sample new beers they seem to be continually crafting. This place is a fun upscale neighborhood bar, and we can definitely see why they are receiving national recognition for their handcrafted beers.
Tired Hands Brewing Company is located at 16 Ardmore Avenue in Ardmore, PA. Phone number is (610) 896-7621.
