| Guild Hall Brewing Company 208 York Road | Jenkintown, PA (215) 429-2629 guildhallbrewing.com |
NOTE: Since this article was written, we have learned that, unfortunately, Guild Hall will be closing. Their “wrap party” will be on Halloween, Saturday, October 31, 2015. Kegs will continue to be available for a limited time. For info on the business, contact jennym@guildhallbrewing.com.
We have decided to run this post anyway, to give them a proper sendoff and in the hopes that this will not be goodbye forever. If you read this prior to Halloween, conisder dropping by for one last hurrah.
Guild Hall Brewing Company opened a restaurant and brewery in June 2015 on York Road in downtown Jenkintown, PA. The 80-year old historic building, located next to the Hiway Theater, was once home to the Jenkintown Antiques Guild. Designed by Horace Trumbauer of Keswick Theater and Philly Art Museum fame, the space was originally a Rolls-Royce garage.
Husband and wife team Owen Hutchins and Jennifer McGuire of the General Lafayette Inn (now home to Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery) own the restaurant and brewery. Hutchins, who has been brewing for almost two decades, also works as the Guild Hall brewer.
The restaurant offers seating for 140 patrons. The U-shaped wood-top bar in the back offers a front seat view of the 7-barrel brewhouse. Red metal stools offer seats for about two dozen. Large booths in the dining area offer space for families or groups of friends, while smaller, more intimate tables offer the perfect date night spot.
High ceilings are accented with skylights and industrial light fixtures, while local art hangs on the brick walls. An additional private dining area is located on the upstairs balcony.
Live music was playing during our visit. The restaurant was busy and the bar was full, but we only needed to wait a few minutes before snagging a pair of the red stools at the bar.
The 7 beers on tap during our visit included…
- Wee Mad Arthur’s Scotch Ale – 7.9% ABV 120-Shilling Wee Heavy Ale
- Watershed Wit – 4.7% ABV Belgian-style Wit
- Darkness Rising Dunkel Weizen – 5.4% ABV Unfiltered German Wheat Beer
- Einfache Oktoberfest – 5.4% ABV Märzen
- Macintyre’s Oatmeal Stout – 5.3% ABV Oatmeal Stout
- Boneshaker IPA – 6.2% ABV West Coast IPA
- Grainne’s Irish Red – 5.4% ABV Amber
Ten percent of the proceeds from Watershed Wit go to the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership. TTF Watershed is dedicated to improving the health and vitality of the watershed by engaging the community in education, stewardship, restoration, and advocacy. Guild Hall’s menu reads, “…we know that good beer needs clean water.”
Beers are available in pints or a flight of four samples. Both 32 and 64 ounce growlers can be filled to go. Wine, cider, and cocktails are also available to enjoy in house.
The food menu at Guild Hall is irresistible. Perhaps you want a light snack like salted pretzel knots or spicy pickles, or perhaps a larger appeteaser like wings or Irish nachos.
Sandwiches include Bangers Fare (sausage, sweet peppers, onions, provolone), Sweetly Brie (fig spread, tomato jam, arugula, multi-grain bread), and Italian Roast Pork (sharp provolone, broccoli rabe, garlic gravy) among others. There’s also plenty of burger choices.
Entrees include Shepherd’s Pie, Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie, Bangers & Mash, Lemon Chicken, Simply Shrimp, Cheddar Polenta, and Fish & Potato Chips.
If you’re not too hungry, I recommend at least trying out one of the desserts. It’s hard to resist Sticky Toffee Pudding, Apple-Pear Cranberry Cobbler, or a Beer Milkshake. We shared the Deep Chocolate Brownie complete with vanilla ice cream and a luscious chocolate ganache.
The brewery is located in downtown Jenkintown. Be prepared to find street parking.
