Backpocket Brewing Company - Raygun

Raygun presents a bright golden hue with a touch of yeast haze in suspension, capped by a sticky head of foam that laces the glass nicely as it recedes to a collar. The aroma on this "Galaxy hopped" IPA is unsurprisingly dominated by those Australian hops, with prominent tropical fruit notes akin to mango and passion fruit, along with some stone fruit impressions and a touch of grassiness. It's certainly an inviting aroma. On the palate, hop bitterness is firm, but supported well by the sturdy malt backbone which offers a light caramel note along with a dose of light breadiness. But, like in the aroma, the hops are the stars here; look for lush passion fruit and pineapple notes along with a touch of peach and a bit of citrus flesh. This tasty and fruity IPA should pair nicely with fish tacos with mango salsa, or try a teriyaki burger topped with grilled pineapple. Cheers!

While studying for a PhD in microbiology, Jake Simmons never imagined he'd be running a brewery in a few years. But, after deciding he wasn't in love with his studies, he left the PhD program and proceeded on a path that ultimately led him to the good place he finds himself in today: at the helm of Iowa's growing Backpocket Brewing Company. After working in the biotech industry for a while, which paid well but didn't inspire any passion, Jake (who had homebrewed for several years) started to consider a career in the brewing business. The chance to create something tangible, sharable, and enjoyable was just too compelling to pass up.

After a few stints at various brewing companies, Jake wound up at Old Man River Restaurant & Brewery in McGregor, IA. Their first beer flowed in 2008 from a small 7-barrel brewhouse. By 2010, they had expanded their operations enough to begin offering kegs and bottles to local draft and retail accounts. Ultimately, though, a big expansion was necessary to really hit the retail space hard, so operations were moved to a brand-new facility in Coralville's Iowa River Landing development project in 2012. The brewery was rebranded as Backpocket, with Jake Simmons serving as brewmaster. Featuring a 30-barrel brewing system, a taproom, and a kitchen, the new location is the perfect hub for local craft beer lovers.

In 2017, Backpocket opened up two satellite locations. First was the Cedar Rapids Pilot Pub, a restaurant and brewpub with a 5-barrel pilot system for creating experimental and small-batch brews. Second to open was their Dubuque Taproom featuring 16 rotating taps along with an array of old-school arcade games. Presently, Backpocket offers five core year-round beers plus a trio of seasonals and various limited-run brews. For more info about the brewery, call 'em up at 319-449-3700 or visit backpocketbrewing.com.