SEPTA’s Paoli-Thorndale Line Brewery Crawl
The Line:
SEPTA’s Paoli-Thorndale Line (formerly, and now unofficially, the R5) runs from 30th Street Station in downtown Philadelphia to Thorndale in Chester County. The line was originally part of Pennsylvania’s Main Line of Public Works- a series of canals and railroads constructed between 1828 and 1834 built across southern Pennsylvania between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The Main Line then became of the Pennsylvania Railroad and eventually Amtrak’s Keystone Line. NYCsubway.org provides a full description of the line.
The Breweries:
With time, it is planned that the tour can include all breweries. As there are only three on the line, some other great beer destinations were included to help round things out. The three breweries are also featured on the Amtrak Keystone Line Brewery Crawl.
- Nodding Head Brewery and Restaurant- This little second floor brewery is adorned with many little bobble heads of various personages. They maintain a small rotating tap lists, which features many beers worthy of tasting. Having opened in January 2000 at the location of a former Samuel Adams Brew House, their beers have been earning awards, most recently at the Great American Beer Festival.
- The Greeks Next Door- This is a bottle shop which stocks in over 950 American and International beers in their fridges- all arrayed up and down the walls for your browsing pleasure- and 16 rotating drafts. Next door is the original tavern, The Greeks (figure out how they created the name yet?), which is a perfect little pub for enjoy that beer you picked up at the bottle shop. The Greeks has been operating continuously in Narberth since 1922 and with the addition of The Greeks Next Door in 2012, there seems no doubt they’ll be going anywhere soon.
Tired Hands Brewing Company - This "brewcafe" just opened in 2012 and in that time they have garnered quite the reputation. There beers are influenced both by the farmhouse brews of France and Belgium along with the American brewer. They have no qualms going off in their own direction, using all types of local and far off ingredients to come up with one of a kind tastes. The beers pair perfectly with their locally produced meats, cheeses, and pickles. They most recently purchased a larger location nearby which will significantly increase their brewing capabilities; follow them on Facebook to keep updated on the continuing renovations!
Tired Hands - Teresa’s Next Door- Only steps away from the train station in Wayne is the polished up Teresa’s Next Door. They have a well thought out draft offering and an extensive bottle list covering the many beers of the world. They make a concerted effort here to present your beer in its proper form, with over 100 types of glassware behind the bar. They also offer various menu items to pair with your beer, including different cheese selections, roasted bone marrow , escargot, mussels, and more.
- Station Tap Room- This 2010 addition to the beer scene of Downingtown provided a needed craft beer pub to the area. Sitting directly across the street (as you may have guessed) from the train station, they offer up beers ranging from as local as Victory Brewing Company down the street to craft beers from throughout the country. Check out the Philly Beer Scene’s take on Station Tap Room.
Victory Brewing Company- Opened in 1996, this brewery has made the amazing expansion from just 1,725 barrels in their first year to just over 93,000 in 2012. You will find a large tap list from which to choose at their brewpub.
Leaving Ardmore Station
The Tour:
- Start your tour at Nodding Head in downtown Philadelphia at 1516 Sansom Street; you’ll find them up the stairs on the 2nd floor.
- After enjoying a beer, stroll over to 30th Street Station where you will catch your first train. Take some time to enjoy the impressive station, with its Corinthian columns at the entrance, Art Deco main waiting room, and art pieces throughout the station. Completed in 1933, it was originally called Pennsylvania Station- 30th Street, as it was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is currently Amtrak’s 3rd busiest station. Now, head up to the SEPTA platforms and grab the Paoli-Thorndale to head out of Philadelphia
- As you travel out of Philadelphia, keep an eye out for some interesting sights along the line. First, as you pull out of the station, take in the view of downtown and the Philadelphia Art Museum across the Schuylkill River. As the train moves through West Philadelphia, look out for the abandoned 52nd Street Station, built by the Pennsylvania Railroad but closed when SEPTA took over the line. Soon enough the train will pull into Narberth and off the train you go.
- You’ll find yourself in the middle of the town of Narberth and just a short ramble down the main street will get you to your beer destination The Greeks Next Door (237 Haverford Ave).
- After getting back on the train, just a two stops later will be the town of Ardmore. Tired Hands Brewing (16 Ardmore Ave) is a short walk west down Lancaster Ave, which part of U.S. Route 30 and the historic Lincoln Highway, the first road across the United States.
- Your next Main Line beer destination is Wayne. On the other side of the tracks you will quickly find yourself at Teresa's Next Door (124 N Wayne Ave).
- After getting back on the train in Wayne, you take it to Downingtown (be sure to check the schedule as some trains turn around prior to this station), where there are two destinations for our beer purposes. First is the Station Tap Room, located right by the train station at 207 W Lancaster Ave.
- After finishing up there, you will have to take a bit of a trek to get to the final destination at Victory Brewing Company (420 Acorn Lane).
Map coming soon!
