PHILADELPHIA, PA – April 2025 — Yards Brewing Company is proud to bring back the Yards Real Ale Invitational, the region’s only cask-conditioned beer festival, on Sunday, April 27, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at their brewery in Philadelphia.
This one-of-a-kind event features over 40 unique real ales from top breweries across Philadelphia, the Mid-Atlantic, and beyond. Guests will enjoy exclusive small-batch beers, live music, local bites, and a behind-the-scenes experience at Yards’ state-of-the-art brewing facility.
“Our philosophy has always been to honor traditional styles and bring inspiring, quality beer to our community,” says Tom Kehoe, founder of Yards Brewing Company. “This festival is a celebration of real ale — the beer that started it all for us.”
🍺 What Is Real Ale?
Unlike conventional beer, real ale is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and naturally carbonated inside a cask. It’s served fresh and conditioned without artificial CO₂ — a nod to centuries-old English brewing methods. Yards has been a champion of real ale since day one, with its flagship Extra Special Ale (ESA) always available on cask in the taproom.
🎉 Event Highlights
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40+ cask-conditioned beers from leading breweries
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Special releases like terpene-infused IPAs, barrel-aged quads, English-style porters, and more
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Live music from Burnin’ Bridges, a folk-rock acoustic duo
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Complimentary brewery tours during the event
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Tasty snacks including soft pretzels from Philly Pretzel Factory and Marchiano Bakery’s famous tomato pie
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All-inclusive ticket includes beer samples, food, a commemorative glass, and music
🍻 Participating Breweries
Enjoy rare and exclusive beers from:
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Philadelphia legends like Dock Street Brewery and Iron Hill Brewery
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Area favorites like Forest & Main Brewing and Levante Brewing
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Regional standouts including Cape May Brewing (NJ), Tonewood Brewing (NJ), Big Oyster Brewery (DE), and Dewey Beer Company (DE)
…and many more to be announced!
📍 Event Details
📆 Date: Sunday, April 27, 2025
🕛 Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Yards Brewing Company, 500 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA
🎟️ Tickets: Available online now
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General Admission includes beer samples, food, glassware & entertainment
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Designated Driver Tickets: $20
“Bringing together breweries from across the region isn’t just about celebrating beer,” adds Kehoe. “It’s about honoring shared history, creativity, and the community we’ve built over decades. Our motto, Brew Unto Others, really comes to life at this event.”
🔗 Learn More & Buy Tickets
To purchase tickets or explore the full list of breweries and beers, visit:
👉 yardsbrewing.com
About Yards Brewing Company
Yards Brewing Company, a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s craft beer scene, was founded in 1994 by friends Tom Kehoe and Jon Bovit, who began brewing as homebrewers in the late 1980s. Their passion for beer led to the establishment of a small, garage-sized brewery in Philadelphia’s Manayunk neighborhood, where they produced their first batches, including the now-iconic Extra Special Ale (ESA). Operating out of a 3.5-barrel brewhouse, they initially brewed one six-keg batch at a time, supplying local bars like Dawson Street Pub and Khyber Pass with hand-pumped ales. By April 1995, Yards ESA debuted at the Philadelphia Craft Beer Festival, marking their entry into the broader craft beer community.
The brewery grew steadily, and in 2008, Yards moved to its current 70,000-square-foot facility at 500 Spring Garden Street in Northern Liberties, a 100% wind-powered brewery that solidified its status as Philadelphia’s largest brewery by 2015.
Yards is renowned for its English-inspired ales, including Philadelphia Pale Ale, Brawler, and the Ales of the Revolution series, which draws from 18th-century recipes attributed to founding fathers like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. Launched in 1999 in collaboration with City Tavern, this series includes General Washington’s Tavern Porter, Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale, and Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce, released for Franklin’s 300th birthday in 2006. The brewery’s commitment to quality and community is reflected in its motto, “Brew Unto Others,” emphasizing support for local organizations and sustainability.