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Yards Brewing Company

Yards Brewing Company                                                                                                               By: Sean Creevey

Yards was founded in 1994 in a 900-square-foot garage in Manayunk by two kids fresh out of college. With empty bank accounts, big dreams, and a 3.5 barrel system, they started brewing their trademark libation, Extra Special Ale. At first they could only deliver kegs to local bars, as bottling their brew was a bit out of their price range. Of course, with such a solid brew as ESA, it was only a matter of time until word got around and the demand went up; they needed to expand. Flash forward a couple years to 1997, and the brewery moved to a new location in the Roxborough area of Philadelphia where they upped their capacity to 3,000 barrels a year, started bottling, and introduced the Philadelphia Pale Ale and Brawler brews to their repertoire.  Four years later they moved again, more than doubling their production capacity. Six years later, in 2007, they moved to their current location on the Delaware River waterfront in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia. The 26,000-square-foot former skate park has suited them well for the past six years, and they have filled the space with a taproom, complete with pub grub and growlers, a 50 barrel brew house, and enough fermenters to push out 32,000 barrels a year.  Their current location also provides them with an opportunity for  future growth.

Naturally, with growth comes change, but the folks at Yards haven’t changed their passion for brewing, the community or the environment. Yards has always had a focus on English-inspired ales, from the ESA to the IPA, and they relentlessly produce quality ales, focusing on quality, never quantity. When I had the opportunity to visit the brewery I spoke with the head brewer and he told me that they are looking forward to and are more than willing and able to expand again.  However,  it has to be a natural process, and it’s only a matter of time until the word spreads and demand rises. Yards currently distributes to New Jersey, Delaware, East Maryland, North Virginia, and most of Pennsylvania (not Erie, sorry), so tell your friends and family about the little ol’ brewery from the City of Brotherly Love.

Yards’ passion for their work extends beyond the brewery and into the greater environment and their local community. Yards is the first brewery in Pennsylvania to be 100% wind powered— I know what you’re thinking, and no, they don’t have windmills on their roof. Instead, they pay extra to their electric provider to make sure that their energy comes strictly from wind.

There’s also a heavy focus on the community, and they’ve established a program called The Extra Yard which entails is donating beer to charity fundraising functions.  Yards helps out as many groups as they possibly can, from Alex’s Lemonade Stand, to WHYY and Philabundance (a local nonprofit organization that works to alleviate hunger and malnutrition). They even open up their tasting room for organizations to hold events. Last year, Yards donated over 2 tractor trailers worth of beer to charities. To find out more about what they’ve done and what you can do to help visit www.yardsbrewing.com/the-extra-yard.

Lest we all forget, Yards could do none of these things without their brews, and the love that comes from making and drinking them! They have five “signature” ales that are always ready to be poured at their tasting room and wholly define them as a brewery. Their signature series consists of Philadelphia Pale Ale, IPA, Extra Special Ale, Brawler, and Love Stout.

Extra Special Ale:

The flagship, the original, the one and only. This brew is intended for those who know about the casks and it’s not meant to be served icy cold, which means it’s perfect all year round. In the summertime you don’t have to worry about your beer getting warm before you drink it; ESA gets better as it warms! (to a point, of course) In the wintertime you have a brew that warms you from the outside in. And if you live in a house like I do you don’t even have to worry about sticking it in the fridge, the cellar is plenty cold enough. With a malt body, a hoppy finish, and 6% ABV, you can stand to have a couple and maybe then you’ll feel a little extra special yourself.

Brawler:

Originally brewed as a nitro, this “pugilist style ale” is based off an English session ale. Ruby red, malt forward and low in alcohol, this brew is ready to go a few rounds if you are. With seven different malts, Yards has produced a brew that can session with the best of ‘em, with enough flavor to compensate for all the adjuncts everyone else is drinking. 4.2% ABV

Love Stout:

This nitro stout will coat your pallet in delicious chocolate and roasted malt flavors. It will slide down your throat so smoothly that you’ll simply be amazed when it’s gone. And it’s so rich that you’ll just have to ask for another, and another, until you’ve finally fallen in love. Luckily for you it’s only served on draught, so that bartender is your new cupid. 5.5%ABV and 20.5 IBUs gets some brotherly love in your belly.

There’s also the “Ales of the Revolution,” which are ales derived from recipes that were used by some of our founding fathers. In this series there are three brews: General Washington’s Tavern Porter, Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce, and Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale. The “Ales of the Revolution” are based upon recipes that are either accessible to the public or created piecemeal through various letters, journal entries, and other media. It only makes sense for these brews to be crafted by Yards, a brewery that has lived all over the city where the Founding Fathers made history, and that works diligently to make that city a better place to live, just like the men they’re paying homage too.

General Washington’s Tavern Porter:

Rumored to have been originally brewed to rally his troops on the battlefield, our first president’s Porter is smooth, deep, and warming. While some might call it liquid courage and others a liquid blanket, I call it satisfying. Brewed with chocolate and roasted barley, this brew goes great with a pot roast and pierogies, or your favorite chocolate cake. At 7% ABV and 34 IBUs, you’ll definitely feel something after a couple — call it what you like, just try not to end up with wooden teeth the next morning.

Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce:

Ben Franklin accomplished A LOT in his lifetime and would be considered a polymath by anyone’s standards. The name “Poor Richard” was a pseudonym used by Franklin when publishing his works. Along with his various inventions, including bifocals and the lightening rod, Franklin created this brew. Of course, being the brilliant man that he was, he circumvented the lack of barley and hops by using molasses and spruce essence. Yards does just this; they actually go up to a local organic farm to literally trim the tips off spruce trees for this brew. At 5% ABV and 13 IBUs, you can stand to have a couple. Maybe it’ll provide some enlightenment and make you the next Poor Richard.

Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale:

Not all ales are created equal. This venerable ale, like Jefferson, is strong-willed and forward-thinking. Using Honey, rye, corn, and oats that were grown on his estate, Jefferson crafted a brew that got him through the winter. I know you might be thinking that corn and oats are technically adjuncts, but believe me when I say there are plenty of flavors to go around. Originally brewed to about 11-13% ABV, this was an ale you’d feel. However, the folks at Yards thought maybe that was a bit much, so they tamed it down to a manageable 8% ABV and 28 IBUs.

Alongside their signature series and the revolutionaries, Yards produces some special brews that aren’t available all the time. There’s the Saison, which if you haven’t tried it yet, find it; they’re out at the brewery and they’re going fast. Cape of Good Hope is an imperial (west coast style) IPA that’s out now. Coming in September they’ll be releasing Cicada, a Belgian IPA (750ml bottles only) and Pynk, a tart berry ale. In November, they will have Old Bartholomew, a Barleywine ale (750 and drought only) and finally in January they’ll be releasing a rye ale. So stay tuned to the brewery at www.yardsbrewing.com for all their new brews and news.  Yards is proudly distributed by Frank Fuhrer Wholesale.