April looks like it’s going to be a good month for beer lovers.
First up is the Yards Real Ale Invitational on April 12 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at the Yards Brewing Co., 500 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia. Tickets and more information is available at https://yardsbrewing.com.
The Real Ale Invitational began in 2008 as a love letter to traditional cask-conditioned beer. Nearly two decades later, it remains the brewery’s signature celebration, honoring a time-tested brewing method that shaped the way beer was enjoyed for centuries.
Real ale is an unfiltered, unpasteurized beer and has been naturally carbonated inside a cask. Yards has played a pivotal role in reviving this brewing method — a tradition that traces back to England — over the last 30 years with their renowned Extra Special Ale. It’s a beer that they always keep available on cask at their taproom.
“We’ve been producing real ale from the very beginning; in fact, ESA was the first beer we ever brewed as a company,” said Tom Kehoe, founder of Yards. “Our philosophy has always been to honor traditional styles and bring inspiring, quality beer to our community.”
Guests will sample more than 40 hand-selected cask-conditioned beers from some of the area’s finest breweries while exploring Yards’ brewhouse and packaging facility, surrounded by towering walls of kegs, cans and bottles.
This year’s participants include legends of the Philadelphia brewing community, including Attic, Big Oyster, Broken Goblet, Cape May, Carbon Copy, Conshohocken, Dewey Beer, Evil Genius, Forest and Main, Guilford Hall, Human Robot, Levante, Lucky Cat. Magnify, My Local Brew Works, New Ridge, Sacred Vice, Sly Fox, Tonewood, Urban Village, Wissahickon and Yards.
“Bringing breweries together from across the region isn’t just about celebrating great beer, it is also about recognizing the shared history, passion, and creativity that drives our craft,” Kehoe said. “Our motto has always been ‘brew unto others,’ to encourage everyone to get together, enjoy good brews, and each other’s company. This event is the culmination of everything we stand for.”
Folk-Rock duo Burnin’ Bridges will be performing live, stripped-down versions of rock, pop and oldies with an acoustic twist. For those that want to deepen their understanding of just what real ale is all about, Yards will be offering complimentary brewery tours during the event. Food will be available for purchase, and every ticket includes a classic Philly-style pretzel.
The can design of Of the Brewers. By the Brewers, draws from Philadelphia’s revolutionary history and deep brewing heritage. (Courtesy of The Brewers Association)
Meanwhile, the Brewers Association has announced the official commemorative beer for the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America, coming to the Philadelphia Convention Center from April 20 to 22. Tickets and more information on the expo are available at www.craftbrewersconference.com.
“Of the Brewers. By the Brewers. For the Brewers.” is a 4.7% ABV pale lager brewed as a true industry collaboration across every tier of the brewing community. Yards Brewing Co. in Northern Liberties was tapped to produce the beer, which is now in production in time for the event. An exclusive limited release will be available at the Yards taproom, 500 Spring Garden St..
It was prepared by the Brewers Association, the national trade organization representing more than 9,000 small and independent American craft breweries.
The conference coincides with America 250 and Philly 250th, the 250th anniversary of American independence, and is expected to draw more than 10,000 attendees from across the country. The event was last in the Philadelphia area in 2016.
Pennsylvania is home to 533 breweries, making it the third largest beer-producing state in the country, behind California and New York.
According to the 2024 Brewers Association data, craft beer contributes $72.5 billion in economic impact in the United States, and Pennsylvania plays a significant role in the national success of craft beer, producing the second-highest volume in the U.S. at more than 2.6 million barrels annually.
It also ranks second in overall economic impact, contributing $5.2 billion to the national economy.