Yards Brewing Co
Tom Kehoe - Founder, Brewmaster
In 1988, two cash-strapped collegiate wrestlers realized that they could sustain their thirst for quality beer without spending their modest savings at the local liquor store by brewing beer themselves. So began the friendship of Tom Kehoe and Jon Bovit.
As they made their way through college they continued to experiment with homebrewing and formulating new recipes. Proud of their product, they were eager to share it with friends. An instant favorite, it wasn't long until they realized their modest homebrewing operation wasn't going to be enough to satisfy the growing demand.
During the early 1990s, many breweries opened, and craft brewing started to gain popularity. Working in a small English-style brewery in Western Maryland, Tom Kehoe and Jon Bovit decided to take matters into their own hands, and in 1994, they founded Yards Brewing Company.
They emptied their savings to get started and began making beer in a small, garage-sized brewery in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia - crafting cask-conditioned ales on a tiny, homemade, three-barrel brewing system. Their lineup included such cult favorites as the Entire Porter and the Old Bart. Upon unveiling their Extra Special Ale at the Philadelphia Craft Beer Festival in April of 1995, beer drinkers in Philadelphia were flabbergasted. A star was born.
Within a few months, "the Yards Guys" were producing one six-keg batch at a time out of their tiny 3.5-barrel brewhouse, and supplying ESA, Entire Porter, and several other cask-conditioned ales to bars clamoring for their wares. They delivered each keg themselves, making a point of being there whenever a bar tapped its first one.
After developing a loyal following, Yards eventually outgrew its first brewery, and in 1996 moved up the hill to the Roxborough section of Philadelphia. The larger brewery allowed Yards to begin bottling its beer for the first time. With a larger brewery Yards was also able to expand production of its Extra Special Ale and began introducing new beers including Philadelphia Pale Ale, which the New York Times rated as one of the best Pale Ales in the country. Two years later, Jon Bovit left Yards to spend more time with his family. However, brewing continued, production increased, and the Yards lineup expanded to include India Pale Ale, Saison, Brawler, and other seasonal specialties
The Weisbrod & Hess Brewery in Kensington. Before we moved in, of course.
In 2001, Yards Brewing Company moved into the old Weisbrod & Hess Brewery in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. New investors Bill Barton and his wife Nancy located the new brewery site. Vacant since 1939, Yards improved the facility and steadily increased production.
In 2003, Yards Brewing Company partnered with the City Tavern - a favorite bar of the nation's founding fathers - to create Ales of the Revolution, a line of historic beer recreations based on the original recipes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin.
Our new brewery is located at 901 N. Delaware Avenue.
Visit the Brewery
Not to be boastful, but we honestly believe that all other ales pale in comparison to this one. Brewed with pilsner malt, Philadelphia Pale Ale is crisp and hoppy, bursting with citrus flavors and aromas.
Philadelphia Pale Ale was named one of the best Pale Ales in the country by the New York Times.
ABV 4.6%
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Crafted from the finest ingredients and originally intended for the cask-ale connoisseur, Extra Special Ale is a robust and hearty amber ale with a malt body and aromatic hop finish.
ABV 6.0%
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How special is Extra Special Ale?
Well, it won the Bronze Medal at the
2010 World Beer Cup.
IPAs were originally brewed to survive the epic sea voyages from England to India. Ours is no different. Hailing from a firm malt background and loaded through and through with hops, this beer will surely survive the journey from your fridge to your couch.
ABV 7.0%
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Boasting superior taste and champion flavor, the Brawler is crafted in the style of English session ales. This malt-forward, ruby colored ale is great for when you want to go a few rounds.
ABV 4.2%
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Saisons were historically brewed to keep the farmhands happy and hydrated during the warm summer months. Crafted using Belgian pilsen malt and candi sugar, this golden Belgian style ale is a refreshing change from your usual beer lineup.
Available June through August
ABV 6.5%
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