In 1988, Tom Kehoe was a broke college wrestler looking for cheap beer.
With the help of friend Jon Bovit, he decided to begin brewing it himself. That early endeavor led to the founding of Yards Brewing Company, a garage operation in Manayunk on a homemade three-barrel brewing system. The success of their Extra Special Ale intersected with Philly’s craft brewing renaissance in the mid-’90s, and Yards grew in tandem with the acclaim.
In 2008, Kehoe relocated the company to its current home on Delaware Avenue, where Yards continues to produce craft-brewed favorites like Philadelphia Pale Ale, Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale (celebrating Philadelphia history) and, of course, the legendary Extra Special Ale.
The eco-friendly facility is the first wind-powered brewery in Pennsylvania and the company donates its spent grains to local farm animals. An active member of the local beer scene, Kehoe has opened Yards’ doors to visitor tours and tastings, and Yards’ ales are a staple on tap at countless local bars, including Standard Tap, Good Dog, Resurrection Ale House and St. Stephen’s Green.
