PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Yards Brewery of Philadelphia is expanding.

More fermentation tanks are on the way for the brewery, near Delaware Avenue and Poplar Street in Northern Liberties, according to founder and brewmaster Tom Kehoe (above).

He says the expansion will bring a major boost to production:

“So we’ll have a 50 percent increase in the amount of beer we can make. At this point we’re making about 16,000 barrels (per year) right now.  We’ll be able to make about 24,000 barrels.”

Nationally, brewers across the US — including the powerhouse brands — turn out about 140 million barrels each year.  Yet for some of the big brewers, Kehoe says, sales are soft:

“People are just going after a better-made product and I think that’s what we’re giving them.  And I think that’s why we’re getting the kind of growth we are in this segment of the beer industry.”

Kehoe says the extra production will enable distribution to more places in Pennsylvania, and beyond.

Reported by John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio.
Photo provided