Here it is. The place that started it all. Just a few years ago, Jean Broillet opened up a quaint little brew pub called Tired Hands in the little town of Ardmore, Pennsylvania. He started turning out delicious hop forward ales and farmhouse style saison’s almost immediately and quickly earned a reputation for making some world class beer.
I have had the pleasure of visiting the Brew Cafe more than a few times. My very first trip was a few months after they opened in 2012 and that first sip of Hop Hands is still sticking with me as one of the best hop forward ales I have tasted in this country. Running the gauntlet that night and tasting everything on their menu, I know there was something special going on here.
Since the brew pub is where it all started for Jean and the gang at Tired Hands, it was only fitting that it gets the spotlight first. Brewing on a 7 barrel system coupled with a slew of small fermenter’s. There has been some ridiculously good beer coming out of the brew cafe the last few years. It goes to show that size does not matter when it comes to making tasty beer.
With Ben Potts at the helm you can always expect greatness coming out of the tanks.
I love the environment here and I think a lot of people would agree with me. Even though it has a somewhat industrial feel, it’s also rustic and very warming. There is cafe style seating downstairs if you want to gather at the bar. Or if you want a more intimate experience, there is an additional bar and seating upstairs which we will visit in a few.
The food menu here consists of some pretty tasty items featuring meat plates, cheese plates and paninis. I recommend the bologna and cheese.
The bread is to die for as well. It is made in house every day, so you can guarantee that it will be fresh.
There are 8 delicious beers on tap and some times you can find something special on the hand pump.
Whether you like to sample or want a bigger glass. There is a pour size for everyone.
I always opt to get everything in a 4 oz pour and circle back around to grab a bigger glass of the beer that stood out to me the most. You can even get growlers to go in 32oz and 64oz formats. With beer this good, you will want to take some home. Trust me.
I mentioned upstairs seating. Why don’t we check that out.
I have only poked my head up here once so it was nice to sit down and sample a few beers in the upper section of the brew cafe. It’s a little more cozy, private and has a completely different feel than downstairs. All the tables and even the bar are handmade from reclaimed wood from the building itself.
Everything that is on draft downstairs can be found upstairs which is quite convenient.
One of the things I love most about Tired Hands is their image and art work. If you follow them socially you will recognize some of the drawings in the following photos. Every time they tap a new beer here, Jean will draw a picture to pair with their latest brew. It’s cool to see that they left almost all of them still on the window.
They might look like quick doodles but I assure you there is a lot more to them than that.
One of the more famous ones is Can’t Keep Up. A series of IPA’s dedicated to how busy they have been since opening their doors. With the production location up and operating, it won’t be an issue much longer.
That about wraps things up here at the brew pub. Stay tuned for Part 2 as I walk around the corner and check out their brand new production facility called the Fermentaria.