Yard House is one of the best places in the United States to visit for craft beer and beginning on March 28, the beer selections will expand to include even more local, regional, and classic brands.
Each year, Yard House conducts an annual beer review with one simple goal in mind: Better beer options. After this year’s review, Yard House announces it will add a total of 1,581 new taps of draft beer to its present lineup of American craft and import beers. More than 50 percent of these addedtaps will be brand new to the Yard House product offerings, a definite boon to craft beer fans, most of whom love to try new brew. The new beers will be tapped at Yard House locations nationwide on Monday, March 28.
Yard House beverage manager Gregory Howard stresses the importance of this annual review each year and why it matters to Yard House customers.
“It’s an intense–yet very thoughtful–process we undergo each year,” said Howard. “Our Beer Review process takes approximately three months to complete. During this time we talk to local distributors, our own server and bartender teams as well as the brewers themselves to find out what is new and what is being called for in each location.”
Howard points out that local beers played an important role in this year’s annual Beer Review.
“There was a huge call for us to focus on local brews, and I believe our team answered that call,” added Howard. “What you’ll find is a much more interesting and defined beer menu with each location having its own distinct list of the best local, regional and imported brands available.”
Yard House’s Beer Review is extensive. It starts with feedback from guests and Yard House team members, since these individuals know well which beers are in highest demand and which are selling the best. Yard House doesn’t limit its inquiries to the bartenders- they involve all members of the Yard House team, including cooks, dishwashers, etc. Each person is asked about the beer selections and what they feel needs to be added. This is followed by a meeting with members of the beverage team and an official tasting/reviewing of more than 1,000 beers (I want this job!) that span across dozens of styles and brands, both local, national, and imported.
“Ultimately we select from 20 to 30 new beers to replace the lowest selling brands at each restaurant,” shared Howard. “That equates to nearly 1,600 tap handles companywide. And, of course, each Yard House will have a couple of taps that are exclusive to that particular location.”
Every craft beer fan is aware of the popularity of IPA but the growing influence and presence of sour beers is one deserving of note. These mouth- puckering brews will be more commonplace on Yard House drink menus following this year’s Beer Review.
Now that the Beer Review is complete, Yard House has begun training sessions with servers and bartenders who will come into direct contact with guests on March 28 when the beers are tapped. This is important, because Yard House personnel need to know about the new beers and be able to answer questions. Whether a customer orders a pint, goblet, 9 -ounce shorty, or the signature 32-ounce half yard, servers and bartenders need to be well- versed on what they tap. March 28 is also significant for another reason. It is the day Yard House will begin offering Sam Adams Utopias, a biennial beer released in very limited quantities that normally retails for about $200 a bottle. Customers can order Utopias at Yard House in two-ounce pours for $22 per serving while supplies last.
Yard House boasts on average 130 taps of beer per location and with the Beer Review complete, fans of this beer bar and restaurant will have new beer selections that include brands and styles not seen before. For more information, visit yardhouse.com or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/yardhouse, Instagram and Twitter @yardhouse. To learn about the Yard House annual Beer Review, visit http://www.yardhouse.com/beers/annual-beer-review or catch the Beer Review video athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DMfZGRr6bw
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