Company
Like many major urban areas on the East Coast, Philadelphia has a long tradition of brewing dating back to America’s Founding Fathers. Although most its breweries did not survive prohibition, Philadelphia, and the surrounding area, has recently given rise to a number of top-tier breweries including, Victory, Sly Fox, Flying Fish (in New Jersey), and the Yards, the last of which opened up in 1994 as a partnership between two home-brewers. As demand for Yards beer grew, so did the business, and what initially started as a hobby in the small town of Manyunk (just west of Philadelphia), eventually moved into the big city to accommodate a need for space. After a few additional moves, the Yards settled in its current location, a 26,000 sq. ft. former skate park right on the Delaware waterfront in the Northern Liberties neighborhood – a neighborhood historically associated with manufacturing and brewing.
I visited the Yards on Saturday, January 5, while I was up in Philadelphia to see friends. My tour guide, Mike, was fantastic, and provided a detailed look at the company, its operations, and how the company approaches the environment and employs sustainable business practices. Notably, upon settling into its current location, the Yards became the Pennsylvania’s first 100% wind-powered brewery (despite lacking any turbines). The Yards pays for wind credits, ensuring that the energy being used to power the brewery and tasting room comes from wind generated sources. Although there is added cost to purchasing energy in such a way, Yards executives have indicated that doing so is important. (Author’s note: According to the American Wind Energy Association, Pennsylvania currently ranks 15th in the country in total wind capacity installed, and in 2009, Montgomery County, just north of Philadelphia, became the first county in the nation to buy 100 percent of its electricity from a combination of wind energy and renewable energy credits derived from wind energy.)
The Yards’ commitment to environmental sustainability doesn’t stop with energy credits. The concrete floors are colored with a soy-based coloring agent, making them safe for disposal once the material is broken down. The Yards recycles whenever possible…and not just its kegs. In its new tasting room, which opened in 2010, all of the tabletops and bar tops come from old bowling alley lanes and the brew house tanks have been purchased second-hand, with some still inscribed with the original companies’ names. Even the pool table is over 100 years old.
The Yards has also developed relationships with local companies in the Philadelphia area, such as Wildflower Baking Company, donating the leftover grains from the brewing process to make bread, which ultimately returns to the tasting room as part of the sandwiches. The Yards also donates some of the grain to local farms as animal feed, which again, comes back to the tasting room kitchen in the form of locally raised sausage. Ultimately, as our tour guide pointed out, the Yards seeks to leave its environments in balance, and by making the efforts on sustainable actions, they are doing just that.
Beer
The Yards has a complete line of beers, but tends to lean more toward English-style session ales, rather than big “Hop Monsters,” which comes as a nice surprise, given my propensity for the English style. The Brawler Ale (pictured below) is, as the label promises, very malt forward, with lots of caramel and toffee on the nose and up front. Brawler finishes slightly tangy, with a hint of apples. At 4.2% alcohol, you can stay with these all afternoon. Additionally, the Yards brews a Philadelphia Pale Ale, which is well-hopped, yet well-balanced, session Pale Ale. Luckily, you can purchases cases of both in the tasting room. Author’s note, the Arista (a roast suckling pig/broccoli rabe sandwich), easily one of the best in America, can be found at Paesano’s on West Girard, a brief 15 minute walk from the Yards tasting room. It would pair well with either of the aforementioned beers.)
During my visit to the tasting room, the specialties on tap included the Love Stout, and the Espresso Cream Stout on hand pump. The latter was every bit as its name implies, and even had some chocolaty overtones on the finish. Currently there is only one review on that beer on BeerAdvocate.com, and it recommends that beer geeks seek it out. I agree.
Finally, if you are seeking a Founding Fathers connection, check out the Yards’ Ales of the Revolution.
The Yards Brewery is located at 901 N. Delaware Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19123. Check the website for hours of operation. http://www.yardsbrewing.com/.
Brawler Pugilist Style Ale (below)
- BeerAdvocate – 3.66/5
- RateBeer – 3.09/5
Philadelphia Pale Ale
- BeerAdvocate – 3.7/5
- RateBeer – 3.04/5
