Backpocket Brewing

Backpocket BrewingBackpocket Brewing
Backpocket BrewingBackpocket Brewing
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

903 Quarry Rd
Coralville, Iowa, 52241-2208
United States

(319) 466-4444 | map
backpocketbrewing.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.85
Beers:
94
Ratings:
870
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.92
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
40
pDev:
17.6%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Goosegeek:
Photo of Goosegeek
Rated by Goosegeek from Kansas

4.39/5  rDev +12%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.25
Brews damn respectable beers
Sep 05, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of WillieThreebiers
Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

4.18/5  rDev +6.6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
Large brewery in a mixed residential /hotel /retail /entertainment area that both seems to have been around for a while, and at the same time, seems to be under development. All glass front facade give the place an open feel, with the brewhouse on the right and a small service bar along the back left wall. Room has a variety of tables and booths, as well as, a large patio out front. 16 beers on tap, I had the Hazy Forecast which was very nice.
May 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.01 by ClintGoodman from Iowa

Jul 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.89 by ajatisbeer from Iowa

Jun 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.14 by Zenboy99 from Wisconsin

Mar 29, 2018
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

3.94/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
I came on a Tuesday and they had buy a beer get a beer for free happy hour. I was by myself so I didn't get that instead they gave me a flight of all 13 beers.
Apr 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.73 by craigbelly from Iowa

Apr 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4.28 by HawkeyeJosh from Arkansas

Jan 30, 2016
Photo of Cheesy_McDuck
Rated by Cheesy_McDuck from Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
Solid place, #1 brewery in Iowa by volume, my hats off
Dec 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.82 by DSWeller from Iowa

Nov 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.05 by boogerisu from Iowa

Oct 10, 2015
 
Rated: 2.6 by burtonryan from Illinois

Oct 06, 2015
Photo of Victory_Sabre1973
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

4.06/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.5
Every time I head to Iowa, I always try to make sure I make it to Backpocket. I am a fan of their beers, namely Raygun, and Slingshot, but their pizzas are killer. The last time I was hoping that I would make it in time before the kitchen closed at 10
Thankfully I did.

It is well wort the 6 hour drive for me, and I will be back.
Sep 23, 2015
Photo of wapcap
Reviewed by wapcap from Nebraska

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A pretty good brewery to visit when in Iowa City.
Beers were decent. Had the double ipa, single ipa and the dubbel. They didn't blow me away but were all fine.
Food was OK, but they seemed to use the microwave quite a bit.
They have raised bed gardens on the back side of the brewery which is cool.
Family friendly, and the service was very good. I recommend checking this place out!
Aug 03, 2015
Photo of Sprague67
Reviewed by Sprague67 from Iowa

5/5  rDev +27.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
An amazing place to stop and have some great beers! Gorgeous facility with a huge outdoor patio and fire pit for nice summer/fall nights. Their beers are of a very high quality, highly recommend stopping in here!
Aug 01, 2015
Photo of tapperm
Reviewed by tapperm from Iowa

3.63/5  rDev -7.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 2.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 5
Great place. Tried all their beers over RAGBRAI and really only really liked a few. They have a lot of varieties but none are anything I'd really seek out. Food was fantastic though!
Jul 28, 2015
Photo of Benjhilmer
Reviewed by Benjhilmer from California

3.91/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75
I visited during RAGBRAI, and hit every one of their beer tents along the route. All of their brews were ok, but none left me wanting more. With that being said, biking 60-100 miles a day left me pining for any beer, so I was happy to have something quality to imbibe. The brewery itself was beautiful; brand new.
Jul 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.99 by Rosstheboss from Iowa

Jul 06, 2015
Photo of Comern34
Rated by Comern34

5/5  rDev +27.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Cool place. Can't wait to go back.
May 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.06 by misternebbie from Pennsylvania

Feb 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by CityofWind_brew from Illinois

Dec 06, 2014
Photo of GoBearsWalter34
Reviewed by GoBearsWalter34 from Illinois

4/5  rDev +2%
The BT actually graduated from my alma mater so we had much to talk about. We also talked about beer the rest of the time with two other patrons. This was a friendly crowd with nice ambiance. The beer was pretty good due to the obvious freshness, but not as good as Kalona Brewery. Would have been fine bringing kids due to the fact they make pop as well. Would go again. Would buy the dunkel or hefe from store. The best beer was their dipa.
Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by invalid665 from Illinois

Oct 27, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by WestHam973 from Illinois

Oct 25, 2014
Photo of UrbanCaveman
Reviewed by UrbanCaveman from Ohio

4/5  rDev +2%
Decent little place that is more industrial than their location suggests, complete with most of the brewing floor and apparatus in plain view from the moment you enter the front door. There's just a bar and a handful of tables, with staff that have been friendly and talkative every time I've stopped in. The beer lineup is solid as well, though I haven't tried their food menu.
Oct 09, 2014
 
Rated: 1 by mshannon789 from Iowa

Sep 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by sgttibbs from Minnesota

Sep 15, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Asrugan from Iowa

Jul 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4.09 by rbrandt22 from Iowa

Jul 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by 22Blue from Kansas

Jul 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by maxsound from Iowa

Jul 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by boogs from Iowa

Jun 27, 2014
Photo of chickenflea
Reviewed by chickenflea from Florida

3.79/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.75
The ambiance is OK, but the place is new and has the industrial feel of the brewery more than that of a pub. I liked it, because I am a homebrewer, but maybe others might not. The outdoor area was nice.

The service was laid back, but the staff were knowledgeable and helpful.

The lineup featured mostly their own brews, and there was a wide range to select from. Backpocket makes very drinkable beers. Event the barleywine was smooth and clean. Don't go looking for something edgy or weird here.

The food was good and fairly priced. Mostly pub food, but the menu was fun and varied.

The brewmaster was very busy when I arrived, but he made time for a wonderful brewery tour. I could tell that he had a million other things going on, but he still made the time to show us around. We spent about an hour with him. Overall it was a very pleasant time. The bar and brewery staff were great. I hope to stop by again the next time I am in town.
Jun 05, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by skubas86 from Illinois

May 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by KAF from Iowa

Feb 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gatordaddy from Maryland

Dec 05, 2013
Photo of Rayek
Reviewed by Rayek from Colorado

3.84/5  rDev -2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 3.75
I was driving East on the beer wasteland that is the I-80 corridor on my way from CO to IL. It had been a long day of driving and I really wanted to stop for a beer and a bite to eat without taking a big detour. Thankfully, I' done my research ahead of time and planned on stopping at Backpocket.

From the outside, I was a little scared at first. Backpocket is in a big, very new, almost corporate looking warehouse right next to a big hotel and some upscale looking restaurants.

Inside, I was greeted to a space that's much smaller than the building lets on. Most of Backpocket's building is dedicated to their brewery. The restaurant gets just enough space for a mid-size bar and perhaps a couple of dozen tables and booths. There's also a good sized outdoor patio for nice days.

Despite the corporate feel, the crowd was anything but. Being right by the U of Iowa seemed to draw a lot of college students and teachers. There were even some music students on Summer break that were setting up to play an impromptu gig on the brewery's patio.

Back to the real reason I came here. I wanted beer and dinner and the menu offered up what I think is one of the best ideas ever: a beer and cheese flight. The flight included 4oz pours of six beers, each paired with a different cheese. A mix of crackers alongside gives you something to cleans your palate with between bites and beers. I really enjoyed it. The beers themselves were above average, with no huge standouts. If didn't need to get back on the road, I would have hung around and tried more of them.

Overall, I'm really happy I stopped here. The location is perfect and the place is a nice stop after a long drive.
Nov 09, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by Palsie from Iowa

Oct 18, 2013
Photo of MarvinTheMarzen
Reviewed by MarvinTheMarzen from Iowa

4.01/5  rDev +2.3%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.25
Backpocket opened their new facility in Coralville last fall and its a unique experience. Their focus is on brewing but a corner of the building is set up as a brewpub. The focus is on beer but they have a small menu (pizza and salad) but they are done very well - think artisan brick-oven pies. The staff is great and really know their stuff.
If you had been to the former location in MacGregor (which was also good) its a whole different experience. The new place is very close to I-80 so be sure to stop if you get a chance.
Jan 15, 2013
Photo of Erdinger2003
Reviewed by Erdinger2003 from Iowa

3.2/5  rDev -18.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3
At the end of a cobblestone road with snow falling that night is where this place is located just off of HWY 80. It's a nice warehouse with a very tall ceiling at brand new fermentors. When you walk in to see the bar you see where they partitioned part of the brewery off to make a bar. They have around a dozen small four person tables with tall seats and a bar that seats a little less than 12. They have a nice stone hearth oven to make pizzas behind the bar. They had about 5 of their regular beers on tap and two guest taps. Before they pour they have a nice new glass rinser. They have nonics, weizen glasses, and skinny mugs. I saw a German Pale Ale on the board, but didn't try that one.

Went when it was late on a friday night to find a lot of locals getting drunk on german style lagers and weizens. Loudish music with TVs mounted to the wall behind the bar with rodeos on it. Service was ok, but we got one beer and never were interacted with until we were done drinking our last and on our way out.

Overall the whole setup is amazing and new and expensive looking, but the beer isn't above average and the service at least on this night was like being at the college bars.
Dec 27, 2012
Backpocket Brewing in Coralville, IA
Brewery rating: 3.85 out of 5 with 870 ratings