Yards Brewing Company

Introduction: The year was 1988, and like many College students, Tom Kehoe and Jon Bovit, enjoyed their beer, but didn't enjoy paying for it. Tom and Jon decided to take action and began brewing it themselves.

As they homebrewed their way through Western Maryland College, they experimented with malt, hops and yeast, formulating new recipes and sharing their creations with friends. It wasn't long until they had more friends than beer.

To gain some hands- on experience in a professional brewery, Kehoe and Bovit apprenticed at the British Brewing Company, a pioneering English-style brewery in Glen Burnie, Md. The early days were spent cleaning kegs and their first paycheck was in the form of a Happy Meal. No joke...quarter pounder, fries, and a coke.

In 1994, they emptied their savings accounts, maxed out their credit cards, and took the plunge by founding Yards Brewing Company in a 900-square‐foot garage in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia.

The Yards story is now in its 18th year. There were a few stops along the way.