Honoring 'The Doctor'

Publication: Alexandria Daily Town Talk
Date: 2021-06-09
Author: Melinda Martinez
Page: 1A
Language: English

Fighting Hand Brewing Company pays homage to Dr. Who

Some fun dialogue in "The Christmas Invasion" episode of the iconic British science fiction show "Dr. Who" is how the Fighting Hand Brewing Company in Pineville got its name.

"We're big ol' nerds," said Chris Lindsey. He and wife Tiffany just opened the microbrewery located in the Trotter Center on Military Highway. And are both big "Dr. Who" fans.

That episode is actor David Tennant's first run as the "The Doctor." And he gets his hand cut off as he banters with the bad guy.

"He's (The Doctor) at the beginning of his regeneration cycle and he grows his hand back," said Chris. "He tells the bad guy that this is his fighting hand. So it just kind of stuck. We always thought that interchange was very, very fun."

The microbrewery doesn't have as many "Dr. Who" Easter eggs as it would like but there will be some coming.

"We plan on having a Dalek in the front window over there," said Chris who plans to make one with a friend. Daleks are the fictional mutant known for saying the phrase, "Exterminate!"

With Pineville's restrictions on alcohol lifted, the Lindseys knew they wanted the microbrewery on that side of the river. Tiffany's grandparents had lived there and she sort of grew up in Pineville.

In addition, Fighting Hand also houses another business. Chris' musical instrument repair shop is located toward the entrance of Fighting Hand.

"The original plan was we were going to open the brewery and I would just try to find me a spot in Alexandria -- a little hole in the wall -- that I could open up," said Chris.

But when they saw a bonus area in the space that would become their microbrewery, they thought it would be perfect for Chris' shop.

"So we were lucky in that we found a place where we could do them both," said Tiffany. "And Pineville has been very supportive so that has helped us a lot. That has been a big reason for us to be here."

It was someone with the City of Pineville who told them about the space in the Trotter Center.

Tiffany, who has a background in biology and chemical engineering, started brewing about five years ago. For 10 years, a brewing kit sat in her attic

Chris and Tiffany Lindsey recently opened Fighting Hand Brewery located in the Trotter Center in Pineville.

before she finally got around to using it. Once she did, she realized she loved it and wanted to do it as a business.

"After I started doing all grain recipes, I was really at that point, trying to make good recipes for this," she said of the business.

Fighting Hand brews

Fighting Hand carries a stout, an amber, an American pale ale that "has a bitter front followed by a grapefruit aftertaste," a blood orange wheat, "that has a healthy dose of blood orange and a touch of coriander"; a Kolsch which is "a Lager style beer brewed with Vienna malt and Triumph hops"; and a pineapple NEIPA (New England India Pale Ale) "made with pineapple and citra, bravo, eukanot, and mosaic hops is double dry hopped to create a balanced flavor profile."

"I do a version of the amber and a version of the stout with coffee from Hidden Grounds," said Tiffany. Hidden Grounds is a local Pineville coffee shop located not far from Fighting Hand on Military Highway.

The Coffee Amber is "a malty amber beer made with freshly ground Brazilian coffee." Some of the proceeds made from selling this beer are donated to local non-profit animal organizations.

The Coffee Molasses Wheat Stout is "made with Steen's molasses, this imperial stout is very dark, chewy, and delicious. This stout uses wheat and oats to round out the mouth feel. Smooth, with less sweetness than the regular stout with more coffee character. Very full bodied."

The Lindseys also sell beer glasses, growlers, masks and shirts with the Fighting Hand logo.

The brewery opened May 29 after they got their state Alcohol and Tobacco Control permit. So far they have been well received.

Currently hours are Thursday-Friday 4-9 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. but are likely to expand. The brewery also hosts a dart league at 6 p.m. Wednesday evenings.

"Nancy Noles is our coordinator for that," said Tiffany. Those interested can contact Noles at nancyr-noles@gmail.com.

On the green walls in the big open area are works by local artists. Tiffany pointed out the black and white art on the walls which were done by artist Mad-die Anderson, collections manager at the Alexandria Museum of Art.

Artist Paul Nettles created the logo over the door, a sign in the hall and also has some photos hanging on the wall as does photographer Tracy Daigre.

What's next for the brewery

"We're trying to do some local art interspersed with the other stuff that we have," said Tiffany. In the future, they plan to do consignment art.

They plan to make live music a component but Chris wants to get things set up with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) first.

"Especially if we have any acts that do cover music," explained Chris.

They did a lot of work in their brewery themselves such as the bar top Chris and his father built with wood from an oak tree that fell during Hurricane Laura in Deville.

"Lots of people like it," said Tiffany. "It gotten a lot of good feedback."

They also have a room that can be reserved for meetings or other events.

A cabinet holds a bunch of different board games for patrons to play while they enjoy their brew or if they want, they are welcomed to bring their own.

And then there's the brewery itself.

"This is where all the magic happens," said Chris.

There is a window where patrons can view the equipment.

"I'm very proud of this room," he said as he spoke about the brewing process. "I built this room."

One of their future goals is to make the venue family friendly.

"We've been talking with Pineville about it and I've been talking to my lawyer about what we need to do to make that happen," said Tiffany. "It may be a little while but we plan to do it."

The Lindseys signed the lease in December 2019. They were doing their own demolition work and talking with an architect. They were finalizing plans when the pandemic hit in mid-March and everything stopped.

"We decided that maybe we should hold off doing anything other than demo for awhile and see happens here," said Chris. "It's one thing to be on the hook for the rent and the utilities. It's quite another to be on the hook for the rent, the utilities, equipment note, the insurance to go along with everything, a cooler full of beer."

He thinks if they had been further along and just about ready to open back then, it probably would have bankrupted them.

"And it very nearly did bankrupt us because we had to put off opening," said Chris. "The original plan was to open up in August of last year. And of course August came and went. We were thinking, 'Well maybe we can do October.' That came and went."

"We didn't actually seriously start the construction phase until the end of September," said Tiffany. "But the good thing about the pandemic is that it actually let me take out enough money to make sure we were able to get everything done. And the way we wanted it to be done."

They were able to pay electricians, plumbers and do other necessary work.

"And I think the timing has been very good," said Tiffany. "Things are starting to open back up. It was very good timing for us."

For more information about Fighting Hand Brewery, check out its Facebook page.

Caption: Tiffany Lindsey, who has a background in biology and chemical engineering, started brewing about five years ago when she realized she loved it and wanted to do as a business. She and husband Chris recently opened Fighting Hand Brewery located in the Trotter Center in Pineville.

Honoring 'The Doctor'

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