Tired Hands: A Brewery Unlike Any Other

It's Okay at Brew Cafe.

Odds are we will do many more pieces on Tired Hands in Ardmore, PA as it is one of our favorites and right nearby outside of Philadelphia. Last night, Eric and I ventured out there and had quite a night at their two locations. While I have been there a number of times before, this was the first time I sat down and drank a number of Tired Hands brews at once. After probably my fourth, I turned to Eric and said "you can go to any brewery around the country, or even the world, and you will never find beers like these guys make." They are that different and that good.

We started the night at the Brew Cafe. Off the top of my head I cannot speak for every one Eric had, but while indulging in a bologna and cheese sandwich on a bread they make in house, I also slugged back an It's Okay (American IPA) and a SaisonHands (Saison/Farmhouse Ale), the latter being one of their staples that is generally always on tap.

Outside the Fermentaria.

After finishing up at the Brew Cafe, we made the 0.3-mile "trek" to the brand new Fermentaria, where you can find 12 beers on tap, all of which are different than the ones on tap at the Brew Cafe (aside from HopHands and SaisonHands). While in this beautiful new building with pretty much nothing separating the bar and eating areas from all the brewing tanks and barrels where all the magic happens, we indulged in a number of other brews.

I started off with the Only Void Aged on Coffee & Cherries (Double Stout), which is said to be one of, if not the best, dark beers Tired Hands has ever made. And I'll tell you what, it's hard to argue. One of the smoothest stouts I've ever had and the cherry notes were so prevalent.

From there I went with Alien Church (American IPA). I later had to go back to this one a second time because I don't think I appreciated it enough the first time around. This is one of the better beers I've ever had. Brewed with Mosaic, Citra, Chinook, Centennial and Columbus hops, it went down super smooth and had me coming back for more later on.

The Trendler Pils (Pilsner, obviously) was next, and while it wasn't a bad brew by any means, it left a little more to be desired. Not going to lie, it's probably more because I'm not much of a pilsner guy.

Alien Church at Fermentaria.

As I commented on my Untappd for this next one, you can sign me up for anything that has to do with Hill Farmstead, thus far my favorite brewery. Delicado (American IPA) is a collaboration between Tired Hands and Hill Farmstead. This was another out of this world IPAs. Every IPA I've had from HF has gone down so easily, and this guy was no exception.

Prior to capping the night off with another Alien Church, I moved on to Honey, I Love You (Saison/Farmhouse Ale). This one has been compared to HF's Anna, and upon tasting both, I concur. A sour brew that isn't too sour, which is exactly what I'm looking for.

If I were to rate the SEVEN distinct beers I had last night (on a scale of 1-5, yes the Untappd scale!), this is how it would go:

1) Alien Church (4.75/5)
2) Delicado (4.5/5)
3) Only Void (4.5/5)
4) Honey, I Love You (4.25/5)
5) It's Okay (4/5)
6) SaisonHands (4/5)
7) Trendler Pils (3.75/5)

 These ratings may be a little redundant for the average reader because by the time you read this or make your way over to Tired Hands, most of these beers (aside from SaisonHands) will be gone and will most likely never see the light of day again. That's what makes this place so special. They never seem to run out of ideas for different brews every week and they don't appear to have a shortage on names, however obscure some of them (most of them) are.

If you are ever in the Philadelphia area, Tired Hands is in my opinion the No. 1 spot you must hit up. It's that good. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Cheers!