Celebrating Small Biz: Yards Brewing Company

The 27th Annual Excellence Awards: Honoring the Region’s Small Businesses are coming up on November 5! Small businesses and small business owners are the backbone of the Greater Philadelphia business community (and make up about 85% of our membership), which is why we think it’s important to recognize some of our region’s most successful small businesses for their innovation, diversity, perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit. Each one of this year’s 11 winners has a great story to tell, and so we’ll be profiling our honorees leading up to the awards. Kicking off our countdown is Yards Brewing Company, awarded 2010 Green Company of the Year.

Award: 2010 Green Business

Company: Yards Brewing Company

On behalf of the Greater Philadelphia business community, we commend Yards for their environmentally conscious business approach.

Yards has come a long way since its initial location in a garage sized brewery in Manayunk. Founded in 1994 by Tom Kehoe and Jon Bovit, Yards created a following with signature ales like Entire Porter and the Old Bart. After moving to several different locations around the Greater Philadelphia area, the Company has grown in size and recognition. Its Philadelphia Pale Ale was named one of the best pale ales in the country by the New York Times and several of its other ales have developed a regional cult following. Now owned by Tom Kehoe, the Yards Brewing Company is a major brewer with an environmental conscience.

Yards is the first 100% wind-powered brewery in Pennsylvania and the floors of its new location (901 N. Delaware Avenue) are made from recycled concrete. Yards sends all of its cardboard and glass to be recycled through Pedal Co-Op and gives its spent grains to local farms for feeding.