Foolproof Brewing Company - Backyahd IPA

Golden-amber in color with bright, glass-lacing foam, Backyahd IPA offers up a pleasantly floral and fruity aroma. Look for some tangerine-like citrus notes amidst a bit of woody earthiness. This IPA hits the mouth with quite a fruity character upfront. Expect some citrus bolstered by a stone fruit quality, underpinned by a nice backbone of slightly toasty caramel malt. There’s a bit of residual sweetness leading to a honey-like impression and a smooth roundness to the overall experience. Though quite firm at 73 IBUs, the malt sweetness does an admirable job of keeping it all rather balanced. Cascade and Fuggle hops work well together, building a hop profile that’s fragrantly floral and citric with complementary earthy and cedar-like woodsy notes. Indian curry dishes make a natural pairing, but a simple well-seasoned grilled steak works too, or an even simpler snack of sharp cheddar, cotswold, or smoked gouda. Cheers!

Founder and President of Foolproof Brewing Company, Nick Garrison, began homebrewing in 2007, and soon realized he had found his calling. He began planning a full-scale leap into the world of professional brewing. When Foolproof finally opened for business in January of 2013, it was the culmination of over four years of preparation and building.

Being the smallest state in the union, it’s perhaps no surprise that there were not many breweries in Rhode Island when Foolproof was launched. But, even on a per-capita basis, the state was at the bottom of the list, making it a ripe opportunity for Garrison to build a local craft brewery to serve Rhode Island and the local region. In fact, demand was so strong that Foolproof had to double its brewing capacity within three months of opening and now sports a 30 barrel brewing system. They’ve become the largest brewery in the state, although they remain a small brewery; there are only about a half-dozen full-time employees.

Like many of the newer breweries to jump into the craft beer scene in recent years (including our other featured brewery this month, Omaha’s Brickway), Foolproof embraced canning instead of bottling from their very first batch. Garrison was keen on this packaging format because it would keep the beer fresher for longer, as the cans prevent light damage and have virtually no headspace, limiting oxidization. The brewery currently offers eight year-round and seasonal offerings. For more info, including brewery tours, call them up at 401-721-5970 or visit www.foolproofbrewing.com.