The Real Ale Invitational began in 2008 as a love letter to traditional cask-conditioned beer. Nearly two decades later, it remains the brewery\u2019s signature celebration, honoring a time-tested brewing method that shaped the way beer was enjoyed for centuries.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 a tradition that traces back to England \u2014 over the last 30 years with their renowned Extra Special Ale. It\u2019s a beer that they always keep available on cask at their taproom.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been producing real ale from the very beginning; in fact, ESA was the first beer we ever brewed as a company,\u201d said Tom Kehoe, founder of Yards. \u201cOur philosophy has always been to honor traditional styles and bring inspiring, quality beer to our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guests will sample more than 40 hand-selected cask-conditioned beers from some of the area\u2019s finest breweries while exploring Yards\u2019 brewhouse and packaging facility, surrounded by towering walls of kegs, cans and bottles.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBringing breweries together from across the region isn\u2019t just about celebrating great beer, it is also about recognizing the shared history, passion, and creativity that drives our craft,\u201d Kehoe said. \u201cOur motto has always been \u2018brew unto others,\u2019 to encourage everyone to get together, enjoy good brews, and each other\u2019s company. This event is the culmination of everything we stand for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Folk-Rock duo Burnin\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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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)<\/p>\n