#283: Yards » Frankford Hall, Cape Of Good Hope, Russian Imperial, Trubbel, General Washington's, Thomas Jefferson's, Poor Richard's, Love Stout, Cicada, Brawler, ESA, IPA, Grand Cru

My partner & I rolled into Philly at the start of December for our Anniversary, as usual, much centered around beer. I was laid out ill the first night, better by day two, and by day three, it was time for some serious beer exploration. We set aside an afternoon to spend at Yards and were glad we did, splitting three flights & a tulip.

(right to left...)

Frankford Hall (Session IPA) | ABV: 5.5%
A session IPA seemed like a fine place to start the afternoon. Frankford Hall serves up with a translucent straw body and a ring of while head. Grassy hop aromas introduce this drinkable IPA. Taste & body akin to an offspring from IPA and a Pils parents.

Cape Of Good Hope (West Coast IPA) | ABV: 9.3% | IBUs: 76
Stepping up a notch, this Imperial IPA entices with sweet mango aromas emitting from a hazy straw body. Bright, shimmering tropical notes pair well with the lively carbonation. Further flavors of lemon zest arise, gaining piney momentum with a touch of floral futher through. Refreshing and tightly bitter.

Russian Imperial Stout | 10.8% ABV
Boasting an alcohol volume over ten percent, this Russian style stands tall, deep, and dark with strong notes of molasses on the nose. It's robust & roasted, nutty and growing evermore bitter, never turning sweet or sticky. Food brings out the huge booze notes in this hardy stout.

Trubbel de Yards (Tripel Dubbel Ale) | ABV: 9.3% | IBUs: 66
The hazy, dark brown brew with off-white head, yields sweet, dark red fruit aromas. Smooth raisin & fresh plum flavors splash across the palate alongside rich, engaging overtones of caramel and chocolate in the far back. A notable brew.

(round two: Ales of the Revolution)

George Washington's Tavern Porter | ABV: 7.0% | IBUs: 34
Robust! Authentically brewed to Washington's own recipe, this strong porter bursts out of the gate with big notes of molasses and dried red fruits. Inferred winter spices are threaded through as well with mild, herbal and medical characteristics. A wonderful step back in time and away from the usual brew.

Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale (Strong Golden Ale) | ABV: 8.0% | IBUs: 28
Once again, historically authentic, Jefferson's is a standout, brewed with honey, flaked maize, rye malt. It's a wonderfully smooth golden ale, spiked with sharp rye notes peaking through sweet biscuit flavors and boozy esters.

Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce (Spice Ale, Indigenous Ale) | ABV: 5.0% | IBUs: 13
"Based on Franklin’s original recipe, which called for barley, molasses, and essence of spruce, our Tavern Spruce is as approachable and engaging as was the man himself." I've had good spruce beers and I've had bad spruce beers, but they're always worth picking up. This one absolutely lands in the former catagory.

Spicy notes abound, Poor Richard's calls on cinnamon & sarsaparilla, mild & sweet white fruit, faint honey flavors with pleasant honey and apricot on the nose. A unique, heavily spiced, and admirable brew.

Love Stout (Nitro Stout) | ABV: 6.9% | IBUs: 30
A growing seasonal favorite in the region, Love Stout, served on Nitro, was the first lackluster brew on the bill so far, in this blogger's humble opinion. A nutty, roasted nose is followed up by wonderfully smooth flavors of coco & nutty. Soft and straightforward. If you're a straight stout fan, this is you in a glass.

Cicada (Belgian IPA) | ABV: 8.5% | IBUs: 60
With an alluring, deep amber body and pink-white head, Cicada has a surprisingly transparent nose for an IPA. Countering the lack of a telling nose, suble notes of candi sugar, bubble gum, and hop citrus bloom on the palate. Bright flavors - hot hops, boozy esters, grapefruit, toffee all dance freely with a touch of caramel in the back. A solid limited brew.

(round 3: signature ales)

Brawler (English Mild) | ABV: 4.2 | IBUs: 12
Once of Yards' year-round flagships, Brawler is full English. A sharp, minerally nose is followed up by a crisp, refreshing session brew with plenty of character. Mildly bitter with firm malt support.

ESA (Extra Special Bitter) | ABV: 6.0% | IBUs: 16
ESA has assertive English styling, with a sweet nose of toffee and nutmeg, with a dance of spice & bitterness on the tongue.

IPA | ABV: 7.0% | IBUs: 62
Soft, tropical & passion fruit notes spring from the nose. Puckeringly bitter at first, this year-round IPA settles in nicely. A solid, east-coast IPA.

Grand Cru (Belgian Strong Ale) | ABV: 9.9% | IBUs: 50
We were able to swap out Yards' flagship Pale Ale (as we'd enjoyed a sixer over the days prior) for a sampling of their Grand Cru to see if we wanted to pick up a 750mL for home.

This brew was wonderful and a hell of a ride, starting with an intriguing pumpkin spice nose, with notable auromas of nutmeg, brown sugar, and yeast. Further whiffs reveal subtle sour cherry notes. On to the palate, it's impressive and heavenly. Hands down the best brew of the day and one of the best of the week.

Yards Grand Cru is elegant and silky smooth with just the right touch of lively, but soft Belgian-style carbonation. Coupled with firm, traditional Belgian spice & mouthfeel, flavors of white stone fruit flow amongs a touch of alcohol heat, all wrapped up in a big, velvety mouthcoat. A great end to the day.

Overall, Grand Cru, Jefferson, and Poor Richards were the winners in my mind, but every brew stood on it's own. High quality, consistency, with one foot in tradition and the other in modern creative craft brewing.