Backpocket Brewing Company - Slingshot

Backpocket's Slingshot pours a deep, rich, reddish-brown with crystal clarity when held to the light, and a cap of light beige foam. From our first go at the aroma we could tell this was a true-to-style dunkel lager—a style hailing from Munich, Bavaria. Look for prominent malty notes of fresh bread and toast, touches of caramel, a dollop of spicy, herbal hops, and a hint of dried fruit that we often pick up in this style of beer, and others featuring a heavy dose of Munich malt. The theme carries onward to the flavor, too, as the beer hits the palate with deep notes of rustic bread and caramel, toasty grain, and a wisp of raisin or fig. Like most great German style lagers, there's a great sense of balance here, as a touch of residual malt sweetness finds just the right counterpoint in a modest level of hop bitterness. Smooth, supple, and medium-bodied, this dunkel should pair beautifully with a wide variety of sausages and grilled meats, or a snack of pungent cheeses. Don't be afraid of a little spice, either, such as with a nice chili, as the beer's touch of bready sweetness can help subdue the fiery notes. 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.