(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- The Yards Real Ale Invitational returns this week at Yards Brewing Company. Discover and sample over forty unique beers from the Mid-Atlantic's finest brewing establishments at the region's only cask-conditioned beer festival on Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Yards brewing facility, surrounded by towering walls of kegs, cans, and bottles, all while indulging in truly historic brews and enjoying live music, good food, and even better company.
Real Ale isn’t your typical beerfest. What makes the Real Ale Invitational truly special is that it’s all about Real Ale; beer that is unfiltered, unpasteurized, 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 thirty years with their renowned Extra Special Ale (ESA). 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 Yard’s Brewing Company. “Our philosophy has always been to honor traditional styles and bring inspiring, quality beer to our community”, Kehoe continued.
Since 2008 Yards has continued to champion this authentic beer making approach with their annual Real Ale Invitational which has become one of the region’s premiere beer events.
The festival isn’t just an homage to tradition, it also celebrates innovation in regards to this distinctive brewing method. Think an IPA infused with terpenes, a spiced English porter, a barrel aged Belgian quad, or even a habenero-watermelon pale ale. You can truly come across any number of creations here.
The 2025 Real Ale Invitational will feature a wide variety of over 40 beers, each a cask-conditioned offering that has been hand-picked by the Yards team from the top breweries in the Philadelphia area. This year's participants include legends of the Philadelphia brewing community including the city’s first microbrewery, Dock Street Brewery, and the award-winning brewing pioneers from Iron Hill Brewery.
The festival will also feature breweries from the greater city area including Forest & Main Brewing as well as Levante Brewing. Neighboring states will be in attendance too with Delaware mainstays including Big Oyster Brewery and Dewey Beer Company as well as New Jersey staples like Cape May Brewing and Tonewood Brewing. That’s just the start of the massive list of participants this year.
“Bringing breweries together from across the region isn’t just about celebrating great beer - it’s also about recognizing the shared history, passion, and creativity that drives our craft. 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”, said Kehoe when asked about why the event means so much to him and his company.
Yards promises an unmatched atmosphere for their 2025 Real Ale Invitational to accompany these amazing beers and satisfy all your senses. 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. If you get hungry, small bites will be available including the ubiquitous beer festival favorite, soft pretzels from Philly Pretzel Factory and Marchiano Bakery’s world famous tomato pie included with your ticket.
The 2025 Real Ale Invitational will kick off at the Yards brewing facility, located at 500 Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia on Sunday, April 27th at 12:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase online and includes admission, pours of each beer, live music, food, and a commemorative glass. Guests who do not wish to partake in drinking can get a designated driver ticket for $20
