Tired Hands (March 2017)

Agreed about not getting the strongest Tired Hands offerings. I'm near DC and the first time I stopped at Tired Hands I wasn't impressed. But I went up for a milkshake release and was sold on everything. Really really great stuff and environment.

 

Correct, I don't know how I would really find the original Instagram post since it was a couple years ago now but I remember it being in the tone of reactionary to the review (the original strawberry). Thought it was interesting that the article listed those other breweries as peers? Not really sure I would classify Weyerbacher and Suarez as peers to Tired Hands given they are all doing different things?

 

So the dude is wearing an only void shirt, holding a drink in one hand and a chocolate bar in the other. Is it highly rated because it's something that was done before and was actually highly rated or is he making fun of the fact that super adjunct stouts are highest rated? Does the happy trail have anything to do with anything?

Teases.

 

Location, and variety. Tree House and Tired Hands are comparable, quality-wise. If Tired Hands canned Grassman and Alien Church every week, they'd probably have similar rankings. Tired Hands being willing to try all kinds of different stuff, some of which doesn't always work out, probably leads a lot of people who only occasionally get some of their stuff to downgrade it. But they're more than capable of making beers as good as Tree House. They just don't always do so.

And of course, the fact that they're right in Ardmore and you don't have to trek out to East Bumblefuck to buy Tired Hands beer makes it taste so, so much worse. They shoulda bought a farm in Amish country and turned it into a brewery.

 

I think one of the other factors that separates Tired Hands from Tree House that I don't see mentioned much is consistency / QC, and transparency.

Tree House has a smaller, more regular rotation of labels, and those beers are dialed in very tightly. I've been able to have several of their beers from different batches and variation from batch to batch is very low (I have cans of Green from 2/24 and 3/8 in the fridge now, and you cannot tell them apart). The owners seem to take QC very seriously and are active on Twitter when anyone has any complaints.

On the other hand(s), Tired Hands batches vary pretty widely, especially in a flagship like HopHands. I've had examples that had more flavor punch than others, and some with notable flaws like diacetyl, etc. They also seem to take a more aloof approach to communicating with the customer about QC issues (see the mango throat burn, etc). I think that difference in tone can go a long way in informing a company's popularity.

 

I agree 100% here.

I have been hopeful for some time that Tired Hands can alleviate their inconsistency issues; I am still hoping this will be the case (sometime soon?).

Cheers!

 

The two breweries have very little in common in terms of their general mission and strategies, seemingly... other than the fact that they're placed on most ISO: HYPED NE IPA Lists™ together. I don't think it makes any sense to compare the two breweries like they're trying to achieve the same goals in the same way.

 

I didn't think anyone was.

 

what are these goals?

 

Tired Hands seems much more about experimentation, where Tree House seems more interested in dialing in recipes and making them as consistently as possible. Tired Hands also brews saisons and uses wild yeast. And runs two restaurants.

Each approach has its advantages. You'll find far more variety among Tired Hands' offerings at any one time, and the ability to leisurely sit and have a beer without a crush of people around you. At Tree House, you can be guaranteed when you go to buy beer, that the brewer has spent countless hours working on the recipe to ensure it is as good as it can possibly be, every time. Tired Hands' lack of total focus on the beer is no doubt why they can't seem to dial in HopHands.

 

I'll go with stout budino.

Or if we take the comment literally it's 5 out of 5

 

So a new dessert stout, and a milkshake... If I wanted to brave the cold tomorrow what time do y'all think I'd have to be there to get beer?

 

i doubt it will be tomorrow. typically milkshakes were on thursday or fridays. last milkshake was a sunday. township doesn't like for them to release on fridays. my guess for shake would be sunday. total guess, though.

 

I'd say sunday too, the new line path might not be so great covered in snow

 

Not really.

Tree House beers are on the next level. Tired Hands may have been there previously in their Brew Cafe only days, but IMO the overall quality has taken a significant blow since the opening of the Ferm, and especially since they've started to can. Sure they'll have a few home run cans here and there, but it's really a crap shoot as to when that'll happen. When Tree House releases an IPA, you know you're getting something amazing - I cannot say the same with Tired Hands.

This last batch of Pineal was absolutely horrific IMO, and I've had each can release of it, and it's been a perennial favorite of mine dating back to its introduction at the Brew Cafe. I think those who do not think Tired Hands' quality has taken a significant hit have either not been drinking it long enough, or are kidding themselves for whatever reason that may be.

 

I'm gonna guess blueberry pancake Milkshake.

 

Really hoping they don't do a void/shake release on the same day.

 

I'm thinking it will be Thursday.

 

Patiently waits and crosses fingers for a void shake release this week that I'll skip then a nice easy and quiet release on Sunday. Why must they play these games with us?