Backpocket Brewing
903 Quarry Rd, Coralville, IA, 52241
Backpocket Brewing Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Coralville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Coralville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Coralville for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
903 Quarry Rd
Coralville, IA, 52241 - Phone (319) 466-4444
- Website https://www.backpocketbrewing.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dessert
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Michael H.
This place just opened about 6 months ago when I traveled through here and stayed at the Marriott next door. It's brand new and looks great. You can see the huge brewing equipment through the windows and up close inside. The beer selection is about 5 classic beers with seasonal and others at various times of year. They also make their own root beer and orange soda. The main staple food here is pizza. They have a few salads and apps also
(4)Barry S.
I had a fun time with a friend of mine and we enjoyed the flights. I'm not a major beer drinker, but a great atmosphere and what I tasted, tasted good! Fun place for couples and groups too!
(4)Hyung S.
1) I don't know if it's the manager or an owner, but he is not friendly, and does not hesitate to scream at people in public. 2) The disrespect shown by them to their neighbors by having late night outside concerts with the sound systems pointing to a residential building is flabbergasting. 3) The pizza is not good. The salads and other food are downright disappointing. The "beer cheese" is okay, though. It's essentially a cold cheese spread served with flatbread. If you want to risk being subjected to outright abuse, that's what to order. 4) The beer is okay, but nothing to write home about. Having lived in Milwaukee, and having family in Madison, I know what remarkable beer is, and this is not it.
(1)Robyn W.
Recently stopped by here while visiting a friend in the area. Beer was great, and service didn't disappoint either. Bartender was very friendly and explained each brew. We had a great time here. I cannot speak for the food as we did not eat here. Will definitely visit here again.
(5)Erica L.
Great beers! Food is very good even with a limited menu. Soup and salad was delicious. Hubby enjoyed the BBQ chx pizza. Definitely check this place out.
(5)Rick M.
Traveling through Des Moines area and wandered in from my hotel. Great beer, wait staff enthusiastic and happy to discuss the offerings. Pizza was very good, place deserves a wider selection of food as menu very limited , but beer aficionados will not be disappointed!
(4)Sunyang F.
One of my favorite bar in town. Unique homemade beers and good environment. If they offer more snack choices, then will be perfect
(4)Brandon L.
Pros: 1. Excellent atmosphere inside and out. 2. The food has been great, particularly the pizza and nachos. 3. Has great events that commonly feature other craft breweries from other states. Cons: 1. Service is usually a bit too casual - have not sat at the bar though. 2. For my palate, the beer tends to be a bit too bland - hope this improves over time with their specialty brews.
(3)Rachel L.
Backpocket Brewery's beer garden is absolutely perfect! A large fire pit encircled by patio chairs, several tables with umbrellas, and a grassy lawn which would be perfect for the beer garden movie nights (I have yet to make it to one). Backpocket plays host to some great gatherings (Border Hop, anyone?) and makes some crazy delicious fire-baked pizza! That mushroom and blue cheese flatbread? oh. my. word. The beer is good but nothing has topped my favorites list yet. They seem to specialize in bright summer brews so I was a little disappointed in the offerings through this past winter. They also make their own sodas and so far have always had root beer, plus an additional rotating option. I've tried the ginger ale and it wasn't quite ginger-y enough but otherwise delicious (not ridiculously sugary or over-carbonated). The biggest thing I've been disappointed with is the customer service. If you sit at the bar or outside, you're golden. But sit in the booths lining the awesome wall of windows and you'll likely be forgotten. I'm a regular here and even though I'm hardly ever around during busy times, I've had to walk up to the bar on multiple occasions to either get a refill on my beer, place a pizza order, or to get my bill.
(3)Daniel S.
One of the very few, if not the only, craft brewpub in the IC/coralville area (I havent lived here in years so i may be wrong) but the beers I got were good,-the raygun and jackknife, we got a chips guac app which was fine, the food menu is pretty limited, just pizzas for entrees, so maybe not a good dinner place, but the beer is well priced, if you like craft beer id recommend going
(4)Marjorie S.
We stopped by for Octoberfest last night. While the management and our waitress (I wish I remembered her name, but she did have a lip piercing I believe) were wonderful, we experienced pretty awful service from the hostess. I understand working in the service industry, I've been there, but she was flat out rude in all of her responses and gave us attitude when we asked if we could grab drinks while we waited for a table. She basically rolled her eyes at us and made us feel unwelcome (also didn't even take our name for the waiting list). The rest of the event was fun and everyone else treated us nicely, but I can't help but complain about someone essentially not doing their job.
(3)Rachel G.
Well, I gave it a try and now know that I never need to go back. I stopped in for lunch and was immediately underwhelmed by the food options on the menu. I ultimately ended up settling for a pizza since nothing else seemed all that appealing. My disappointment continued when I took my first bite of the BBQ Chicken pizza I ordered. It really wasn't very good. I assume people head here for the beer and not the food. However, my beer was fine but not phenomenal. With craft beers being so big these days I'm sure there are plenty of other places in the area that can deliver on quality brews AND good food. Next time I will head elsewhere.
(2)Amy S.
Excellent wood fired pizza, brews, & atmosphere. They feature revolving visiting brews along with their own beers. I really enjoy the Slingshot dunkel. The service has been ok on our visits-we go for the beer. Note that their food selection includes appetizers and pizza, it's not a full menu. The beer is the feature at Backpocket. They also have a large patio with a fire pit which is nice to sit by while enjoying a beverage. Check out the brewery tours there too. We haven't been on one but look forward to it on a visit soon.
(5)Harris B.
I'm sure their beer is good. Dropped in a little before closing trying to meet up with my buddy for his bachelor party. Could of had a quick beer, but Chris was pretty insistent that although it was "last call" they are now closed. Would have been happy to get in and out. Here for few more days but won't be back. I even called ahead to see how late they stay open. Drove two hours to be here. Total let down.
(1)Alex W.
This place was pretty neat. I was staying at the Marriott next-door for a conference and our weekend started here. The local alumni group had reserved their production area with tables and appetizers for any of us to enjoy. At times there wasn't much space [there were a lot of us] but it wasn't a huge concern for me. I was able to try a few slices of pizza, their cheese bread, nachos, and a few other goodies. I had low expectations for a brewery to serve good food, but man it was great! Service was phenomenal - the operations manager and a brewery worker kept on our drink orders as well as keeping the food coming out. I was advised to try a couple of beers before ordering a pint, so I went ahead and ordered the massive Supa' Fly't. Unfortunately it was 50/50 like/dislike on their beers. I was disappointed that there was no Hefe to try [temporarily out of stock I believe]. The few that stood out were the Bock, APA, IPA, and the cider. Everything else was not that great or just meh. I really enjoy darker-color/darker-flavor beers [stouts, dunkels, etc] but I couldn't finish my tasters after a small sip. One of the coolest things was drinking out of Das Boot! Roughly 7-8 glasses in total of one beer, and you cannot set the thing down, otherwise you pay for the entire beverage. My partner and I were helped out with a few other convention-goers. What a nice way to network with people by helping a friend out with their beer!
(4)M O.
As a microbrewery, pretty solid. As a restaurant, it can be hit or miss. The beer selection is decent. I'm not a huge fan of the standard offerings but the seasonal and guest need can be a treat. The menu is limited but the food is good. The brick oven pizzas go especially well with a few beverages. For what it is, I would give the place 4 stars, except for how they perform on busy nights. If it is packed, expect VERY slow service, possibly burnt pizza, overworked waiters, and a generally less than ideal experience. The beer is still okay.
(3)Lauren D.
Solid food, good beer, good service... what more could you ask for? Appetizers are pretty good. Honestly its a great place to get a beer and socialize. I like the beer cheese as an appetizer, it is pretty spicy but addicting. Pizza isn't NYC pizza, but for Iowa its good. Never had a bad meal here. During the summer they have the grill open. Haven't had anything from there, but looking forward to trying it this summer (if it ever gets here).
(4)Chris M.
Hailing from Oregon, where brewing has become both an art and a science, I was eager to test out what the Midwest had to offer. Back Pocket was the one place I made a point to test out twice, and with good reason. It's not exactly easy to find, located in some new development area. But they are very good at what they do, which is brewing beer. Only once did I order food, and don't remember what it was. Probably because I was so focused on the beer. Maybe it was timing, but every other time I tried going through Iowa City and scoping out breweries, the only other options were closed, or parking was an issue. But being a short jaunt off the highway, and with plenty of parking, Back Pocket was very convenient, with great outdoor seating. I particularly liked their Hefeweizen, or should I say Dunkelweizen. Any place deserves props for doing that.
(5)Kelli J.
Between the three of us, we had Slingshot (dunkel), Wooden Nickel (peated bock), Swabian Hall Smoked Brown and Gold Coin (helles). All were wonderful! We also had brats with potato salad, pretzel and a special blue cheese bacon burger pizza. Very good with beer. Service was very good.
(4)Kyle P.
They always seem to be out of something. The last time I went in it was ice cream and one of the beers that they brew. How do you run out of a beer that you brew on site?! The service is very hit or miss depending on the night. The only thing that keeps me coming back is they are the only place in eastern Iowa that offers Geeks who Drink trivia. If it weren't for the trivia night I would never go here. The food, when they do have it, is mediocre at best. The beer is sub-par based on the other selections you can get in Iowa, other Iowa craft breweries offer better beers. Save your money and the extra 500 feet and grab dinner at 30 Hop instead.
(1)Mike M.
Great beers, check. Great pizza, check. Can't decide on what beer to get? No worries, get a flight and enjoy 5 of their delicious beers. If you are an IPA fan, I highly recommend the Raygun. If only I had a way to take it back home with me. You lucky people up here can fill up a growler and take home their brews, those of us that live 1000 miles away aren't so lucky. So take advantage of your location and give these guys a try.
(4)Ian J.
I stopped by here on a business trip and am thoroughly impressed. Nice decor in a large brewpub. But the highlight is the beer: OUTSTANDING! The best I've had in Iowa, which isn't saying too much, but it really ranks right up there with the best I've had anywhere. Perhaps my memory is fading since living in the "beer mecca" of SoCal, but it was very good, and I'm now a fan of Backpocket Brewing. Only negative I can think of is it was kinda pricey. I'll be stopping by next time I'm in town.
(4)Lisa R.
Took my folks to Backpocket to take the tour and try a few beers. The tour starts at 5, so we made sure to arrive a few minutes early. We approached the hostess and informed her we would like to take the tour. She went over to a guy drinking at the bar and spoke briefly to him. He smirked and said something to her. She came back and told us that the tour had already left. See, the thing about it is that there was no tour. You could clearly see into the brewing area, and no people. If you don't want to do it, fine. Just don't lie. It has a tendency to piss people off. We were then seated, and same girl was our server. We were trying to decide between flights, and asked her about the different brews. Her response was that it was her first day and she didn't know anything about the beers except their names. Now, call me crazy but if one is working at a brewery, one would most likely expect at least a rudimentary knowledge of the offerings. Sigh. There was no offer to get a knowledgeable person (how about the dude at the bar? Maybe he could help with all the time he saved by not doing our tour!), so we just got 2 flights of each and ordered some pizza. Our flights were delivered backwards but named in order, further underscoring the fact that our server was in over her head. You can't tell me that the Pennywhistle is the one on the end that is as black as the heart of the dude at the bar who refused our tour. So here's the thing. I took my folks there because we all love beer. My brother brews, my hubs brews, WE. LOVE. BEER. Overall, disappointing in the experience/product knowledge/employee engagement areas. Beer was good, pizza was decent. I think I'll buy sixers at hyvee and pick up some Wig and Pen next time so I can not have a tour in the comfort of my own home.
(2)Chris R.
Went and had the same thing as my last review, but the big difference was the service! Jake did a fantastic job! Very attentive to our drinks and food order. Food came out hot, fresh and a timely manner. Not rushed, and not waiting for our food. Great job! Will be back for more. Ps, if you don't like chewy brick-fired pizza, go elsewhere.
(4)Sandy R.
Flight of beers: all disappointing brews- flavor lacking. Pizza flavor was okay but it's hard to like a pizza when the middle of the pie's crust is wet and soggy on the bottom. Service was prompt.
(2)Alex S.
I feel like the biggest issue with Backpocket is its mistaken for a restaurant. Its a brewery that has food to accommodate people who are drinking and would like a pizza or a little appetizer. Its not a restaurant, and people should stop reviewing like it is. I go to Backpocket for the beer. Not the food. Raygun IPA is where it's at!
(4)Derek J.
I can't wait to try Backpockets new Stout. I hope it's good. The bar fare here is great, and the landscaping outside, and activities they always have going on are not to be missed. I really like the whole River Landing area, it's a huge improvement for the entire area. I do take issue with how the city of Coralville's government is handling the river landing with respect to Iowa City, but I can't ding the businesses for that.
(5)Jessica G.
Beer is hit and miss. Pizzas are good but be warned that the menu is small. Patio is great if you can find a spot.
(2)Mark E.
Wow, what a disappointment. Terrible service and the food was just awful. The menu offers a 1/2 lb burger but when it arrived it was so tiny and so overcooked I knew something wasn't right. I decided to ask the waitress how the burger could possibly be 1/2 lb. She admitted that even though the menu said 1/2 lb they changed it to 1/4 lb but they haven't had time to update their menu's and she probably should have told us. Yes, she should have told us! It was the same $11 but half the size I think I'm entitled to know that information. Dishonest and I won't be returning to give them any more of my business. I'll be shocked if this place is still around next summer especially with their attitude towards their customers. Try the other restaurant in the same mall it looked great.
(1)Rhiannon W.
I came here with my parents and loved it! They got the Specialty flight while I tried the Pennywhistle, which I highly recommend! We all got different pizzas, and the margherita and BBQ chicken were phenomenal. The service was great--our waitress checked on us frequently and was very friendly. I highly recommend coming here!
(5)Heidi S.
Great beers. Try the sampler. Great deal for some great beers. Nice outside area to sit and visit. Great for groups and couples.
(5)Adrian D.
Really fun brewpub! Small restaurant in the front of the brewery. Nice selection of beers, all brewed on site. I had the Pennywhistle Hefeweizen, it tasted solidly like a traditional Hefe, but it had a nice touch of cinnamon. Also had a Yo Adrian! pizza, tasty and nicely spicy. Others in our group got nice salads. Overall, food was fine, but come for the beer!!
(5)Amanda C.
I wish you could give 1/2 stars on Yelp as I would give Backpocket 3.5. The beer is good but not blow your socks off amazing. I tried a specialty flight to get a nice cross section of what they offer but due to some miscommunication between the person pouring and our server I wasn't sure exactly which glass was which beer and sort of had to guess. They offer a few pizzas and flatbreads to munch on while you drink. We tried the Muschamp flatbread, which was quite good. The crust seemed to be handmade and had a nice char.Overall a really nice place to hang out after a football game and have a few beers.
(3)Scott S.
Appending my two previous reviews, we at there a couple weeks ago and the pizza was not as good as expected from previous visits, and the waitress, while friendly, didn't visit the table very often.
(4)Chris M.
Decent beer but they need to expand their dining menu. Lots of quick bar type foods.
(3)Emily M.
On a recent trek to see one of my most favorite artists of all time play at the Englert Civic Theatre, my husband and I decided to stop in for some beers and pizza at Backpocket Brewing. We arrived to find the Iowa-Ohio State game on and decided to get a booth that looked over the patio. That way we could still keep an eye on the game and do some people watching. We were seated right away and were able to order a flight of their 5 top beers. Our waitress was super friendly, and pretty on top of things. No complaints there. The beers, as other posters have noted are as follows : Slingshot Dunkel - Dark Lager Gold Coin Helles - Blond Lager Penny Whistle Wheat - Hefeweizen Wooden Nickel Peated Lager - Scottish Lager Jackknife GPA - Pale Ale They also had a RayGun Ale on tap, which I didn't try. The menu, however, was probably the most disappointing thing about Backpocket. I do realize it's a brewery, but it was my understanding it was a brewpub. (I could be wrong!) They had a very limited menu. I understand if they want to focus on the beers.... if that's the case, make sure that's clearly stated. We went in thinking we had a few other options, other than pizza and some apps. We got the pizza but it seemed to be lacking a bit - although decently sized for one person, it arrived kind of luke-warm and just didn't seem all that great. Coming from WI, I just wasn't all that impressed with the beers. Maybe it was being spoiled from places like Lakefront and New Glarus, but I wasn't as wowed by the beers as I was hoping to be. Still, it was a good place to have a few brews and a meal before a show. If we're ever in the area again, we would consider it.
(3)Matt U.
After hearing both good and bad from this new spot, we decided to try it out with some friends and we were very happy with the decision. Ample outdoor seating and realtively limited seating inside with both benches and small booths inside. Work checking out the outside if you're in the mood. The beer selection currently includes the five brews prepared on site. The Lager is spectacular and the Dunkel is quickly becoming legendary. Apparently the first few batches were sub-par, but at this point, their right on the money. At $4 for a pint and $5 for a 22 oz, trying a couple is much easier than most other places in the area. The 5 offerings are listed below. Slingshot Dunkel - German Dark Lager Gold Coin Helles - German Blond Lager Penny Whistle Wheat - Bavarian Hefeweizen Wooden Nickel Peated Lager - Scottish style Lager Jackknife GPA - German Pale Ale As far as food goes, they've got mosly small plates along with a good variety of brick oven pizzas. Early reports were that most of the pizzas were burnt, however the three our group tried were splendid. The meat combo was particularly good and the margherita left something to be desired. At $9 a shot, they were a little on the high side, but overall were a key part of a solid evening. The cheese tray was also good, but the game changer was the Nutella and Bacon dessert pizza. They took awesome and multiplied it by pork! Salty sweet that left us wanting for naught and gave us yet another reason to come back!
(4)Sam B.
Beers are named after things that fit in your back pocket. Focus is on the beer not the food, as it should be. Excellent beers. Only peat flavored beer I've found in the US, in the Wooden Nickel bock. Pizza made in a real pizza oven is a perfect complement to the beer. Wait staff is attentive. Tap room is in the brewery and the building was built for the brewery. Worth a visit. Out door fire pit is sweet. Tour at 5:30 weekdays.
(4)Donald Y.
Stopped in here after the Hawkeye spring scrimmage and wasn't disappointed. The taproom itself is a little small but luckily we found a high top table open. They also have a nice outside area setup with a fire pit. The beers are all excellent. Most of their main beers they bottle and distribute so I knew what I was getting into before I went in. They do brew a handful of speciality beers they only serve there on tap. I see they also have a mug club based on the mugs hanging over the bar. Food wise they only have appetizers and brick oven pizzas. We opted for the BBQ Chicken pizza and it was very good. I really liked the crust and the BBQ sauce was sweet and flavorful. Definitely will be back when in town!
(4)Lane H.
I have had several of the beers that they offer, but today I had The Wooden Nickle and I am in love! The flavor was amazing, I liked the smokey tones and it was the type of beer that went perfect with the bbq I was enjoying at the Celtic Fest. (It was official Scottish BBQ- lol) Great work guys and I'm planning on drinking a lot more of this.
(4)Bill Y.
Walking in you are hit square in the nose with the smell of wort... Which translates into fresh local beer. They serve food, but make no mistake - this is a brewery, you should respect it as that. The beer and bartenders are both delightful and they have no problem telling you if a keg or brew is great or bad. If a beer is bad, they'll tell you and give you a sample, apologize, and recommend something else - as a beer fan I love tasting failed experiments as much as rockstar brews! A must visit for beer fans in coralville!
(4)Jenna B.
I love this place. Good food, great beers, great prices, awesome atmosphere. I like how you can buy bees for people and leave it on the board. It feels like a place I'd find in uptown Minneapolis, but with much better prices and parking. The bartenders/servers know their product well.
(5)Amy J.
Beers are decent although I was horribly disappointed by the layers of dust over everything. We sat at the bar and the shelf that holds the mug club mugs had a layer of dust as did the straws on the bar and the napkin dispenser too! The wait staff seemed oblivious to the filth,(there were plenty of them working).They chatted amongst themselves, when they could of spent the time cleaning. Very disappointed. I hope this place is cleaned up soon.
(2)Keith S.
This was a pleasant surprise. I was making my way back north and needed a lunch stop. My travel partner from Cedar Rapids decided we needed to go here. Now, I did not have a beer as I was in the middle of a 10 hr haul so I can't comment on that. Beer is obviously a main point of the destination here. I'll comment on the rest. Really liked the space. Had I not been with my friend, I wouldn't have recognized it as a restaurant. Looks more like a warehouse/retail front. Big windows up front, unique seating, very open. It felt like a small "gastropub" (I hate that word) in a brewery...which makes a lot of sense I guess since that is what it is. Anyways. Concise menu. Single serve pizzas with a special that changes out. I ordered the BBQ chicken pizza. Great crust. Great BBQ taste that doesn't overpower it and wasn't too sweet. I had the home brewed root beer as well, that was very good. Service was great. Prices were good. Would definitely go back.
(4)Margaret L.
This is a great little brewery in Coralville, with a fun atmosphere and fantastic service. I rolled in here with a group of friends around noon (the beginning of socially-acceptable beer drinking hours) and we picked a booth and sat down with no wait. The server was immediately over to greet us and take our orders (we all got the beer flight- 5 little sampler glasses). All of the beers that I tried were good- the peat beer was earthy and aromatic, and the Gold Coin was a table-wide favorite. Nothing was too overpowering or exotic, which can happen when breweries are trying to show off. I'd rather not be assaulted by hops all the time, you know? So, overall this is a good place to sample lots of tasty brews, receive great service, and hey- if you get too drunk there's a Marriott right across the street!
(4)Melissa T.
Most of our friends told us Backpocket is, "Good for beers, terrible for food, but the pizza is decent". Last night we got together with friends and secured a 6:15pm reservation for 12 (i.e. read: they knew we were coming with a large party) for the patio. We arrived at 6:15pm, were seated right away, and our entire party was there by 6:25pm. NOT A SINGLE SERVER APPROACHED OUR TABLE UNTIL 6:45pm (half an hour after the first of us arrived). This was only after I got up and flagged down a server. We placed our entire order right away. We were annoyed but tried to give them the benefit of the doubt. We watched the smaller parties around us steadily had their orders taken, served their drinks, appetizers and food. By 7:10pm (FIFTY-FIVE MINUTES, 55!) only HALF of our table was given water glasses. By that point, I went in to speak to the manager. He sheepishly explained they were short servers and offered to compensate our first round of drinks. WHAT ROUND OF DRINKS?! WE ALL HADN'T EVEN RECEIVED WATER? If we could have walked out, we would have, though we were celebrating a friend's engagement. It took not only myself, but another member of our party to complain to the manager, did the service finally improve. I pointed out that we watched several tables around us be served. We finally received our drinks and food. Our server was apologetic, as it was clear it was not her fault. She had to man too many tables, and this was the err of the POOR management staffing. I'm giving them 2 stars, instead of 1, as they did compensate our first round of drinks. While it's near hotel(s), it's good for them that out of town visitors will sustain this restaurant. As local residents, we will not be back. 55 minutes just waiting for water, people....
(2)Rene V.
IF you're going to own a pizza oven, learn how to use it. The pizza is impressively bad. Seriously. With the equipment they have I dint understand how the pizzas come out doughy with no crisp and the toppings are slightly over done. Really nice staff, pretty good beers.
(2)Mike M.
Stopped in on this frigid night for some beer and pizza. There's not much in the way of beer descriptions on the board (particularly for the seasonal beers) so if you're not sure what type of beer you want definitely go with a beer flight; it's a good deal. Every time I've been here I've sat at the bar and have had no service issues- friendly bar staff and quick service. I tried the "Totonka" pizza tonight- buffalo chicken and blue cheese. It was awesome- the crust was done perfectly. It's been mentioned in plenty of other reviews but this is primarily a brewery that has a brick oven style pizza oven as well. If you go here expecting a full restaurant menu you're going to be disappointed.
(4)Allen W.
Great local brews. Was as advertised. Pizza was hot and the crust was crisp. Server was great and knowledgeable about the beers. Highly recommend the specialty flight if you like bolder flavored brews. Great stop close to the highway.
(5)Robert M.
Good Pizza. The beer was spot on for each style, but was sad they were out of the Raygun.
(4)Amanda M.
Everyone was really friendly! It had a great atmosphere. The beer was great. They are known for their root beer too which I have had, it was good! We had their margherita flatbread- it was super tasty! Wish they had more on their menu. Overall, great local place to go for beer and apps.
(4)Mike D.
I think Backpocket Brewing is a great place to enjoy some great local beers. I love the set up and how new the building is. I haven't had there food there recently but the last time we did it wasn't anything to brag about, but it is a brewery so I'm not there to eat haha. The seating area is a little small but the patio in the summer time is Amazing!! Cant wait to be there this summer.
(4)Terri G.
My husband and I stopped by Backpocket on Saturday, August 2 to hear a new local band perform on the patio out front. It was very crowded. We could barely get inside the door to get our name on the wait list for a table. We requested first available and waited at least 20 minutes. We got seated inside and then waited at least another 20 minutes for service, which we received only because I flagged down the host and told him we needed to be waited on. Our poor waitress was running ragged and told us the manager had let several people off for vacation that week. As far as we could tell, there were only 4-5 wait staff waiting on several hundred customers! This place needs new management. Our food wasn't great, but no one goes to a brewery for the food. Beer was good as always. Backpocket: Please prepare better for busy weekend events. We won't be returning soon.
(2)Raisa S.
The pizza is mediocre. The beer is bland. The salads are overdressed and sour. The servers seem nice at first but they will not even attempt to fix anything if you mention that something is not right with the food. This place is sad.
(1)Rob D.
Beers are excellent - when in stock. They seem to be getting that pretty well ironed out. Food is excellent but selection is very small - needs to be expanded. Atmosphere and decor is awesome.
(4)Michelle B.
Love this place, but they don't hold reservations...you can try to make one, but they might call and cancel on you 2 hours before hand. :( The beer is REALLY good, and their food is great too. Brick oven pizza and beer cheese dip is where it's at. Also they just started showing movies in their outdoor area on a blowup screen, and have a huge firepit!
(4)Sarah P.
We waited for a few minutes for a server to notice us at our table. At first I was slightly annoyed and then I realized that it was probably because they were attending to AN ART CLASS. That's right. A painting class in a brewery. Oh how I wish we weren't on a tight schedule. Aside from that brand of awesomeness, all 6 of the beers were good, with at least 3 that I would have considered stellar. Then there's the pizza. We got the Tatonka. Buffalo chicken, blue cheese, and celery. Best buffalo chicken pizza I have ever had, and maybe even vying for a spot as best pizza I've ever eaten. Fan frickin' tastic! The crust was the perfect softness in the middle with crispy just ever so slightly blackened bubbly crust. The blue cheese flair was evenly distributed and the celery added the perfect crunch. Wow. Overall, this place was super awesome!
(5)Doreen D.
We were staying at the Mariott next door for a wedding and made our way here several times. The atmospher was fun. The place emptied out pretty early we thought on a Thursday as we were the last ones there at 10:30. But the bartender was great and told us alot about the place and it's growth. Over the course of our stay, we tried all the different brews and everyone had a favorite. We would have liked to buy one of the mugs (not join the club). It was disappointing that they weren't for sale. And if we lived in the area, it would be disappointing to have the mug club filled and not be able to join. The outdoor area looks like it will be a hit when the weather is warm. We just wish all our weddings could be located next to a cool brew pub.
(4)Bruce W.
Fantastic Pizza! Quality 16 oz hand crafted beers for $4.....sweet. Good variety of beers, which an emphasis on German beers.
(5)Sheila B.
Came here at 1pm on a Sunday afternoon. They were out of Wooden Nickle, which is one of their signatures and the beer I wanted. I ordered the Nachos and she tells me they're out of guacamole and the chili isn't ready yet so I can't order that. So I order a pizza with chicken, spinach, basil, and tomato. Five minutes later she comes back and says they are out of chicken. How do you run out of chicken, guacamole, and a favorite beer all at the same time? She kept blaming it on Fry Fest and some bike race that was ending nearby, but they knew about those months in advance and should have been able to plan for that. I hate to see what they're going to do when people want that for dinner later tonight... Will not be returning.
(1)Trevor F.
pretty sweet place, dont stop here before a Hawks game, its hard to get in and out even for drinks unless you go early and get out after one.
(3)Whitney L.
Love the Slingshot, always a good go to! The Beer Cheese is a great app to snack on while you drink the local brews!
(5)Austin B.
Now that they have all the beers and pizza and seating going, this place is awesome! Beer prices are more than reasonable given the quality, which is excellent. If I could just get convince all my friends who live in IC that Coralville isn't on another planet, I would come here all the time!
(5)Brett S.
Incompetent wait staff. Would not accommodate my wife and newborn in stroller. Walked out.
(1)Eric H.
The beers are good but this place seems poorly run. Ive been here a handful of times and have been disappointed each time by either the lack of service or the lack of available items that day. Each time I've been there they've been out of ingredients to make the pizza I want or have been out of the beers themselves. The last time it was hard to get any help from a server, we had to keep chasing her down just to even get some basic silverware. it's sad because I really want to like this place but have left disappointed every time. I don't think we'll be going back.
(2)Jason J.
1.5 hour wait for pizza. Simply unacceptable
(1)Fashion I.
Dopplebock is yummy. Unique flavor...pies good too!
(4)Kathyl J.
Beer was good. Few selections of the home brews. Unless you ONLY want pizza, don't go for a meal. One of our party ordered a spinach salad that was so wilted he said it felt pre-chewed. Another said to leave off the dressing due to gluten concern...the salad came dressed. On Friday and Saturday nights we were told they cook out burgers and brats. We ordered two burgers, one was still uncooked in the middle. The real kicker is they were served! on cheap paper plates the server could barely hold to keep the items on. Other than catsup and mustard, there were no other fixings for the burgers....lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles etc. c'mon!!! The server was very gracious and charged us only for the beer and one pizza we took with us. This was a VERY disappointing visit. I doubt we will be back.
(2)Carmen T.
Went there and had to sit at picnic tables in the actual brewery with fluorescent lighting didn't stay to eat. Had one beer and left.
(2)Mike W.
Good beer, good pizza- love the goat cheese pizza! We wish they had multiple sizes for pizza.
(4)Jennifer T.
Very casual and the food is fine, nothing special. I wish restaurants in Iowa city would serve something other than pizza and burgers. Good if you need a bite one night and don't want to cook. Wait staff was amateur and the lettuce/pickles for my burger came in a plastic wrapped cup, which was strange. They would probably come across a bit more polished if they took the chips out of the bag and out them on the plate too. the beer was good. Just not a foodie destination or anything. But I didn't expect it to be since it's in coralville, which is generally a culinary wasteland.
(3)Amanda M.
Everyone was really friendly! It had a great atmosphere. The beer was great. They are known for their root beer too which I have had, it was good! We had their margherita flatbread- it was super tasty! Wish they had more on their menu. Overall, great local place to go for beer and apps.
(4)Mike D.
I think Backpocket Brewing is a great place to enjoy some great local beers. I love the set up and how new the building is. I haven't had there food there recently but the last time we did it wasn't anything to brag about, but it is a brewery so I'm not there to eat haha. The seating area is a little small but the patio in the summer time is Amazing!! Cant wait to be there this summer.
(4)Whitney L.
Love the Slingshot, always a good go to! The Beer Cheese is a great app to snack on while you drink the local brews!
(5)Austin B.
Now that they have all the beers and pizza and seating going, this place is awesome! Beer prices are more than reasonable given the quality, which is excellent. If I could just get convince all my friends who live in IC that Coralville isn't on another planet, I would come here all the time!
(5)Brett S.
Incompetent wait staff. Would not accommodate my wife and newborn in stroller. Walked out.
(1)Raisa S.
The pizza is mediocre. The beer is bland. The salads are overdressed and sour. The servers seem nice at first but they will not even attempt to fix anything if you mention that something is not right with the food. This place is sad.
(1)Rob D.
Beers are excellent - when in stock. They seem to be getting that pretty well ironed out. Food is excellent but selection is very small - needs to be expanded. Atmosphere and decor is awesome.
(4)Melissa T.
Most of our friends told us Backpocket is, "Good for beers, terrible for food, but the pizza is decent". Last night we got together with friends and secured a 6:15pm reservation for 12 (i.e. read: they knew we were coming with a large party) for the patio. We arrived at 6:15pm, were seated right away, and our entire party was there by 6:25pm. NOT A SINGLE SERVER APPROACHED OUR TABLE UNTIL 6:45pm (half an hour after the first of us arrived). This was only after I got up and flagged down a server. We placed our entire order right away. We were annoyed but tried to give them the benefit of the doubt. We watched the smaller parties around us steadily had their orders taken, served their drinks, appetizers and food. By 7:10pm (FIFTY-FIVE MINUTES, 55!) only HALF of our table was given water glasses. By that point, I went in to speak to the manager. He sheepishly explained they were short servers and offered to compensate our first round of drinks. WHAT ROUND OF DRINKS?! WE ALL HADN'T EVEN RECEIVED WATER? If we could have walked out, we would have, though we were celebrating a friend's engagement. It took not only myself, but another member of our party to complain to the manager, did the service finally improve. I pointed out that we watched several tables around us be served. We finally received our drinks and food. Our server was apologetic, as it was clear it was not her fault. She had to man too many tables, and this was the err of the POOR management staffing. I'm giving them 2 stars, instead of 1, as they did compensate our first round of drinks. While it's near hotel(s), it's good for them that out of town visitors will sustain this restaurant. As local residents, we will not be back. 55 minutes just waiting for water, people....
(2)Rene V.
IF you're going to own a pizza oven, learn how to use it. The pizza is impressively bad. Seriously. With the equipment they have I dint understand how the pizzas come out doughy with no crisp and the toppings are slightly over done. Really nice staff, pretty good beers.
(2)Mike M.
Stopped in on this frigid night for some beer and pizza. There's not much in the way of beer descriptions on the board (particularly for the seasonal beers) so if you're not sure what type of beer you want definitely go with a beer flight; it's a good deal. Every time I've been here I've sat at the bar and have had no service issues- friendly bar staff and quick service. I tried the "Totonka" pizza tonight- buffalo chicken and blue cheese. It was awesome- the crust was done perfectly. It's been mentioned in plenty of other reviews but this is primarily a brewery that has a brick oven style pizza oven as well. If you go here expecting a full restaurant menu you're going to be disappointed.
(4)Allen W.
Great local brews. Was as advertised. Pizza was hot and the crust was crisp. Server was great and knowledgeable about the beers. Highly recommend the specialty flight if you like bolder flavored brews. Great stop close to the highway.
(5)Robert M.
Good Pizza. The beer was spot on for each style, but was sad they were out of the Raygun.
(4)Terri G.
My husband and I stopped by Backpocket on Saturday, August 2 to hear a new local band perform on the patio out front. It was very crowded. We could barely get inside the door to get our name on the wait list for a table. We requested first available and waited at least 20 minutes. We got seated inside and then waited at least another 20 minutes for service, which we received only because I flagged down the host and told him we needed to be waited on. Our poor waitress was running ragged and told us the manager had let several people off for vacation that week. As far as we could tell, there were only 4-5 wait staff waiting on several hundred customers! This place needs new management. Our food wasn't great, but no one goes to a brewery for the food. Beer was good as always. Backpocket: Please prepare better for busy weekend events. We won't be returning soon.
(2)Michael H.
This place just opened about 6 months ago when I traveled through here and stayed at the Marriott next door. It's brand new and looks great. You can see the huge brewing equipment through the windows and up close inside. The beer selection is about 5 classic beers with seasonal and others at various times of year. They also make their own root beer and orange soda. The main staple food here is pizza. They have a few salads and apps also
(4)Barry S.
I had a fun time with a friend of mine and we enjoyed the flights. I'm not a major beer drinker, but a great atmosphere and what I tasted, tasted good! Fun place for couples and groups too!
(4)Hyung S.
1) I don't know if it's the manager or an owner, but he is not friendly, and does not hesitate to scream at people in public. 2) The disrespect shown by them to their neighbors by having late night outside concerts with the sound systems pointing to a residential building is flabbergasting. 3) The pizza is not good. The salads and other food are downright disappointing. The "beer cheese" is okay, though. It's essentially a cold cheese spread served with flatbread. If you want to risk being subjected to outright abuse, that's what to order. 4) The beer is okay, but nothing to write home about. Having lived in Milwaukee, and having family in Madison, I know what remarkable beer is, and this is not it.
(1)Robyn W.
Recently stopped by here while visiting a friend in the area. Beer was great, and service didn't disappoint either. Bartender was very friendly and explained each brew. We had a great time here. I cannot speak for the food as we did not eat here. Will definitely visit here again.
(5)Daniel S.
One of the very few, if not the only, craft brewpub in the IC/coralville area (I havent lived here in years so i may be wrong) but the beers I got were good,-the raygun and jackknife, we got a chips guac app which was fine, the food menu is pretty limited, just pizzas for entrees, so maybe not a good dinner place, but the beer is well priced, if you like craft beer id recommend going
(4)Marjorie S.
We stopped by for Octoberfest last night. While the management and our waitress (I wish I remembered her name, but she did have a lip piercing I believe) were wonderful, we experienced pretty awful service from the hostess. I understand working in the service industry, I've been there, but she was flat out rude in all of her responses and gave us attitude when we asked if we could grab drinks while we waited for a table. She basically rolled her eyes at us and made us feel unwelcome (also didn't even take our name for the waiting list). The rest of the event was fun and everyone else treated us nicely, but I can't help but complain about someone essentially not doing their job.
(3)Rachel G.
Well, I gave it a try and now know that I never need to go back. I stopped in for lunch and was immediately underwhelmed by the food options on the menu. I ultimately ended up settling for a pizza since nothing else seemed all that appealing. My disappointment continued when I took my first bite of the BBQ Chicken pizza I ordered. It really wasn't very good. I assume people head here for the beer and not the food. However, my beer was fine but not phenomenal. With craft beers being so big these days I'm sure there are plenty of other places in the area that can deliver on quality brews AND good food. Next time I will head elsewhere.
(2)Amy S.
Excellent wood fired pizza, brews, & atmosphere. They feature revolving visiting brews along with their own beers. I really enjoy the Slingshot dunkel. The service has been ok on our visits-we go for the beer. Note that their food selection includes appetizers and pizza, it's not a full menu. The beer is the feature at Backpocket. They also have a large patio with a fire pit which is nice to sit by while enjoying a beverage. Check out the brewery tours there too. We haven't been on one but look forward to it on a visit soon.
(5)Harris B.
I'm sure their beer is good. Dropped in a little before closing trying to meet up with my buddy for his bachelor party. Could of had a quick beer, but Chris was pretty insistent that although it was "last call" they are now closed. Would have been happy to get in and out. Here for few more days but won't be back. I even called ahead to see how late they stay open. Drove two hours to be here. Total let down.
(1)Brandon L.
Pros: 1. Excellent atmosphere inside and out. 2. The food has been great, particularly the pizza and nachos. 3. Has great events that commonly feature other craft breweries from other states. Cons: 1. Service is usually a bit too casual - have not sat at the bar though. 2. For my palate, the beer tends to be a bit too bland - hope this improves over time with their specialty brews.
(3)Sunyang F.
One of my favorite bar in town. Unique homemade beers and good environment. If they offer more snack choices, then will be perfect
(4)Rachel L.
Backpocket Brewery's beer garden is absolutely perfect! A large fire pit encircled by patio chairs, several tables with umbrellas, and a grassy lawn which would be perfect for the beer garden movie nights (I have yet to make it to one). Backpocket plays host to some great gatherings (Border Hop, anyone?) and makes some crazy delicious fire-baked pizza! That mushroom and blue cheese flatbread? oh. my. word. The beer is good but nothing has topped my favorites list yet. They seem to specialize in bright summer brews so I was a little disappointed in the offerings through this past winter. They also make their own sodas and so far have always had root beer, plus an additional rotating option. I've tried the ginger ale and it wasn't quite ginger-y enough but otherwise delicious (not ridiculously sugary or over-carbonated). The biggest thing I've been disappointed with is the customer service. If you sit at the bar or outside, you're golden. But sit in the booths lining the awesome wall of windows and you'll likely be forgotten. I'm a regular here and even though I'm hardly ever around during busy times, I've had to walk up to the bar on multiple occasions to either get a refill on my beer, place a pizza order, or to get my bill.
(3)Alex W.
This place was pretty neat. I was staying at the Marriott next-door for a conference and our weekend started here. The local alumni group had reserved their production area with tables and appetizers for any of us to enjoy. At times there wasn't much space [there were a lot of us] but it wasn't a huge concern for me. I was able to try a few slices of pizza, their cheese bread, nachos, and a few other goodies. I had low expectations for a brewery to serve good food, but man it was great! Service was phenomenal - the operations manager and a brewery worker kept on our drink orders as well as keeping the food coming out. I was advised to try a couple of beers before ordering a pint, so I went ahead and ordered the massive Supa' Fly't. Unfortunately it was 50/50 like/dislike on their beers. I was disappointed that there was no Hefe to try [temporarily out of stock I believe]. The few that stood out were the Bock, APA, IPA, and the cider. Everything else was not that great or just meh. I really enjoy darker-color/darker-flavor beers [stouts, dunkels, etc] but I couldn't finish my tasters after a small sip. One of the coolest things was drinking out of Das Boot! Roughly 7-8 glasses in total of one beer, and you cannot set the thing down, otherwise you pay for the entire beverage. My partner and I were helped out with a few other convention-goers. What a nice way to network with people by helping a friend out with their beer!
(4)M O.
As a microbrewery, pretty solid. As a restaurant, it can be hit or miss. The beer selection is decent. I'm not a huge fan of the standard offerings but the seasonal and guest need can be a treat. The menu is limited but the food is good. The brick oven pizzas go especially well with a few beverages. For what it is, I would give the place 4 stars, except for how they perform on busy nights. If it is packed, expect VERY slow service, possibly burnt pizza, overworked waiters, and a generally less than ideal experience. The beer is still okay.
(3)Lauren D.
Solid food, good beer, good service... what more could you ask for? Appetizers are pretty good. Honestly its a great place to get a beer and socialize. I like the beer cheese as an appetizer, it is pretty spicy but addicting. Pizza isn't NYC pizza, but for Iowa its good. Never had a bad meal here. During the summer they have the grill open. Haven't had anything from there, but looking forward to trying it this summer (if it ever gets here).
(4)Chris M.
Hailing from Oregon, where brewing has become both an art and a science, I was eager to test out what the Midwest had to offer. Back Pocket was the one place I made a point to test out twice, and with good reason. It's not exactly easy to find, located in some new development area. But they are very good at what they do, which is brewing beer. Only once did I order food, and don't remember what it was. Probably because I was so focused on the beer. Maybe it was timing, but every other time I tried going through Iowa City and scoping out breweries, the only other options were closed, or parking was an issue. But being a short jaunt off the highway, and with plenty of parking, Back Pocket was very convenient, with great outdoor seating. I particularly liked their Hefeweizen, or should I say Dunkelweizen. Any place deserves props for doing that.
(5)Kelli J.
Between the three of us, we had Slingshot (dunkel), Wooden Nickel (peated bock), Swabian Hall Smoked Brown and Gold Coin (helles). All were wonderful! We also had brats with potato salad, pretzel and a special blue cheese bacon burger pizza. Very good with beer. Service was very good.
(4)Kyle P.
They always seem to be out of something. The last time I went in it was ice cream and one of the beers that they brew. How do you run out of a beer that you brew on site?! The service is very hit or miss depending on the night. The only thing that keeps me coming back is they are the only place in eastern Iowa that offers Geeks who Drink trivia. If it weren't for the trivia night I would never go here. The food, when they do have it, is mediocre at best. The beer is sub-par based on the other selections you can get in Iowa, other Iowa craft breweries offer better beers. Save your money and the extra 500 feet and grab dinner at 30 Hop instead.
(1)Mike M.
Great beers, check. Great pizza, check. Can't decide on what beer to get? No worries, get a flight and enjoy 5 of their delicious beers. If you are an IPA fan, I highly recommend the Raygun. If only I had a way to take it back home with me. You lucky people up here can fill up a growler and take home their brews, those of us that live 1000 miles away aren't so lucky. So take advantage of your location and give these guys a try.
(4)Rhiannon W.
I came here with my parents and loved it! They got the Specialty flight while I tried the Pennywhistle, which I highly recommend! We all got different pizzas, and the margherita and BBQ chicken were phenomenal. The service was great--our waitress checked on us frequently and was very friendly. I highly recommend coming here!
(5)Adrian D.
Really fun brewpub! Small restaurant in the front of the brewery. Nice selection of beers, all brewed on site. I had the Pennywhistle Hefeweizen, it tasted solidly like a traditional Hefe, but it had a nice touch of cinnamon. Also had a Yo Adrian! pizza, tasty and nicely spicy. Others in our group got nice salads. Overall, food was fine, but come for the beer!!
(5)Lisa R.
Took my folks to Backpocket to take the tour and try a few beers. The tour starts at 5, so we made sure to arrive a few minutes early. We approached the hostess and informed her we would like to take the tour. She went over to a guy drinking at the bar and spoke briefly to him. He smirked and said something to her. She came back and told us that the tour had already left. See, the thing about it is that there was no tour. You could clearly see into the brewing area, and no people. If you don't want to do it, fine. Just don't lie. It has a tendency to piss people off. We were then seated, and same girl was our server. We were trying to decide between flights, and asked her about the different brews. Her response was that it was her first day and she didn't know anything about the beers except their names. Now, call me crazy but if one is working at a brewery, one would most likely expect at least a rudimentary knowledge of the offerings. Sigh. There was no offer to get a knowledgeable person (how about the dude at the bar? Maybe he could help with all the time he saved by not doing our tour!), so we just got 2 flights of each and ordered some pizza. Our flights were delivered backwards but named in order, further underscoring the fact that our server was in over her head. You can't tell me that the Pennywhistle is the one on the end that is as black as the heart of the dude at the bar who refused our tour. So here's the thing. I took my folks there because we all love beer. My brother brews, my hubs brews, WE. LOVE. BEER. Overall, disappointing in the experience/product knowledge/employee engagement areas. Beer was good, pizza was decent. I think I'll buy sixers at hyvee and pick up some Wig and Pen next time so I can not have a tour in the comfort of my own home.
(2)Chris R.
Went and had the same thing as my last review, but the big difference was the service! Jake did a fantastic job! Very attentive to our drinks and food order. Food came out hot, fresh and a timely manner. Not rushed, and not waiting for our food. Great job! Will be back for more. Ps, if you don't like chewy brick-fired pizza, go elsewhere.
(4)Alex S.
I feel like the biggest issue with Backpocket is its mistaken for a restaurant. Its a brewery that has food to accommodate people who are drinking and would like a pizza or a little appetizer. Its not a restaurant, and people should stop reviewing like it is. I go to Backpocket for the beer. Not the food. Raygun IPA is where it's at!
(4)Mark E.
Wow, what a disappointment. Terrible service and the food was just awful. The menu offers a 1/2 lb burger but when it arrived it was so tiny and so overcooked I knew something wasn't right. I decided to ask the waitress how the burger could possibly be 1/2 lb. She admitted that even though the menu said 1/2 lb they changed it to 1/4 lb but they haven't had time to update their menu's and she probably should have told us. Yes, she should have told us! It was the same $11 but half the size I think I'm entitled to know that information. Dishonest and I won't be returning to give them any more of my business. I'll be shocked if this place is still around next summer especially with their attitude towards their customers. Try the other restaurant in the same mall it looked great.
(1)Heidi S.
Great beers. Try the sampler. Great deal for some great beers. Nice outside area to sit and visit. Great for groups and couples.
(5)Amanda C.
I wish you could give 1/2 stars on Yelp as I would give Backpocket 3.5. The beer is good but not blow your socks off amazing. I tried a specialty flight to get a nice cross section of what they offer but due to some miscommunication between the person pouring and our server I wasn't sure exactly which glass was which beer and sort of had to guess. They offer a few pizzas and flatbreads to munch on while you drink. We tried the Muschamp flatbread, which was quite good. The crust seemed to be handmade and had a nice char.Overall a really nice place to hang out after a football game and have a few beers.
(3)Scott S.
Appending my two previous reviews, we at there a couple weeks ago and the pizza was not as good as expected from previous visits, and the waitress, while friendly, didn't visit the table very often.
(4)Chris M.
Decent beer but they need to expand their dining menu. Lots of quick bar type foods.
(3)Sam B.
Beers are named after things that fit in your back pocket. Focus is on the beer not the food, as it should be. Excellent beers. Only peat flavored beer I've found in the US, in the Wooden Nickel bock. Pizza made in a real pizza oven is a perfect complement to the beer. Wait staff is attentive. Tap room is in the brewery and the building was built for the brewery. Worth a visit. Out door fire pit is sweet. Tour at 5:30 weekdays.
(4)Derek J.
I can't wait to try Backpockets new Stout. I hope it's good. The bar fare here is great, and the landscaping outside, and activities they always have going on are not to be missed. I really like the whole River Landing area, it's a huge improvement for the entire area. I do take issue with how the city of Coralville's government is handling the river landing with respect to Iowa City, but I can't ding the businesses for that.
(5)Jessica G.
Beer is hit and miss. Pizzas are good but be warned that the menu is small. Patio is great if you can find a spot.
(2)Emily M.
On a recent trek to see one of my most favorite artists of all time play at the Englert Civic Theatre, my husband and I decided to stop in for some beers and pizza at Backpocket Brewing. We arrived to find the Iowa-Ohio State game on and decided to get a booth that looked over the patio. That way we could still keep an eye on the game and do some people watching. We were seated right away and were able to order a flight of their 5 top beers. Our waitress was super friendly, and pretty on top of things. No complaints there. The beers, as other posters have noted are as follows : Slingshot Dunkel - Dark Lager Gold Coin Helles - Blond Lager Penny Whistle Wheat - Hefeweizen Wooden Nickel Peated Lager - Scottish Lager Jackknife GPA - Pale Ale They also had a RayGun Ale on tap, which I didn't try. The menu, however, was probably the most disappointing thing about Backpocket. I do realize it's a brewery, but it was my understanding it was a brewpub. (I could be wrong!) They had a very limited menu. I understand if they want to focus on the beers.... if that's the case, make sure that's clearly stated. We went in thinking we had a few other options, other than pizza and some apps. We got the pizza but it seemed to be lacking a bit - although decently sized for one person, it arrived kind of luke-warm and just didn't seem all that great. Coming from WI, I just wasn't all that impressed with the beers. Maybe it was being spoiled from places like Lakefront and New Glarus, but I wasn't as wowed by the beers as I was hoping to be. Still, it was a good place to have a few brews and a meal before a show. If we're ever in the area again, we would consider it.
(3)Matt U.
After hearing both good and bad from this new spot, we decided to try it out with some friends and we were very happy with the decision. Ample outdoor seating and realtively limited seating inside with both benches and small booths inside. Work checking out the outside if you're in the mood. The beer selection currently includes the five brews prepared on site. The Lager is spectacular and the Dunkel is quickly becoming legendary. Apparently the first few batches were sub-par, but at this point, their right on the money. At $4 for a pint and $5 for a 22 oz, trying a couple is much easier than most other places in the area. The 5 offerings are listed below. Slingshot Dunkel - German Dark Lager Gold Coin Helles - German Blond Lager Penny Whistle Wheat - Bavarian Hefeweizen Wooden Nickel Peated Lager - Scottish style Lager Jackknife GPA - German Pale Ale As far as food goes, they've got mosly small plates along with a good variety of brick oven pizzas. Early reports were that most of the pizzas were burnt, however the three our group tried were splendid. The meat combo was particularly good and the margherita left something to be desired. At $9 a shot, they were a little on the high side, but overall were a key part of a solid evening. The cheese tray was also good, but the game changer was the Nutella and Bacon dessert pizza. They took awesome and multiplied it by pork! Salty sweet that left us wanting for naught and gave us yet another reason to come back!
(4)Ian J.
I stopped by here on a business trip and am thoroughly impressed. Nice decor in a large brewpub. But the highlight is the beer: OUTSTANDING! The best I've had in Iowa, which isn't saying too much, but it really ranks right up there with the best I've had anywhere. Perhaps my memory is fading since living in the "beer mecca" of SoCal, but it was very good, and I'm now a fan of Backpocket Brewing. Only negative I can think of is it was kinda pricey. I'll be stopping by next time I'm in town.
(4)Donald Y.
Stopped in here after the Hawkeye spring scrimmage and wasn't disappointed. The taproom itself is a little small but luckily we found a high top table open. They also have a nice outside area setup with a fire pit. The beers are all excellent. Most of their main beers they bottle and distribute so I knew what I was getting into before I went in. They do brew a handful of speciality beers they only serve there on tap. I see they also have a mug club based on the mugs hanging over the bar. Food wise they only have appetizers and brick oven pizzas. We opted for the BBQ Chicken pizza and it was very good. I really liked the crust and the BBQ sauce was sweet and flavorful. Definitely will be back when in town!
(4)Lane H.
I have had several of the beers that they offer, but today I had The Wooden Nickle and I am in love! The flavor was amazing, I liked the smokey tones and it was the type of beer that went perfect with the bbq I was enjoying at the Celtic Fest. (It was official Scottish BBQ- lol) Great work guys and I'm planning on drinking a lot more of this.
(4)Bill Y.
Walking in you are hit square in the nose with the smell of wort... Which translates into fresh local beer. They serve food, but make no mistake - this is a brewery, you should respect it as that. The beer and bartenders are both delightful and they have no problem telling you if a keg or brew is great or bad. If a beer is bad, they'll tell you and give you a sample, apologize, and recommend something else - as a beer fan I love tasting failed experiments as much as rockstar brews! A must visit for beer fans in coralville!
(4)Jenna B.
I love this place. Good food, great beers, great prices, awesome atmosphere. I like how you can buy bees for people and leave it on the board. It feels like a place I'd find in uptown Minneapolis, but with much better prices and parking. The bartenders/servers know their product well.
(5)Amy J.
Beers are decent although I was horribly disappointed by the layers of dust over everything. We sat at the bar and the shelf that holds the mug club mugs had a layer of dust as did the straws on the bar and the napkin dispenser too! The wait staff seemed oblivious to the filth,(there were plenty of them working).They chatted amongst themselves, when they could of spent the time cleaning. Very disappointed. I hope this place is cleaned up soon.
(2)Keith S.
This was a pleasant surprise. I was making my way back north and needed a lunch stop. My travel partner from Cedar Rapids decided we needed to go here. Now, I did not have a beer as I was in the middle of a 10 hr haul so I can't comment on that. Beer is obviously a main point of the destination here. I'll comment on the rest. Really liked the space. Had I not been with my friend, I wouldn't have recognized it as a restaurant. Looks more like a warehouse/retail front. Big windows up front, unique seating, very open. It felt like a small "gastropub" (I hate that word) in a brewery...which makes a lot of sense I guess since that is what it is. Anyways. Concise menu. Single serve pizzas with a special that changes out. I ordered the BBQ chicken pizza. Great crust. Great BBQ taste that doesn't overpower it and wasn't too sweet. I had the home brewed root beer as well, that was very good. Service was great. Prices were good. Would definitely go back.
(4)Margaret L.
This is a great little brewery in Coralville, with a fun atmosphere and fantastic service. I rolled in here with a group of friends around noon (the beginning of socially-acceptable beer drinking hours) and we picked a booth and sat down with no wait. The server was immediately over to greet us and take our orders (we all got the beer flight- 5 little sampler glasses). All of the beers that I tried were good- the peat beer was earthy and aromatic, and the Gold Coin was a table-wide favorite. Nothing was too overpowering or exotic, which can happen when breweries are trying to show off. I'd rather not be assaulted by hops all the time, you know? So, overall this is a good place to sample lots of tasty brews, receive great service, and hey- if you get too drunk there's a Marriott right across the street!
(4)Lisa R.
Took my folks to Backpocket to take the tour and try a few beers. The tour starts at 5, so we made sure to arrive a few minutes early. We approached the hostess and informed her we would like to take the tour. She went over to a guy drinking at the bar and spoke briefly to him. He smirked and said something to her. She came back and told us that the tour had already left. See, the thing about it is that there was no tour. You could clearly see into the brewing area, and no people. If you don't want to do it, fine. Just don't lie. It has a tendency to piss people off. We were then seated, and same girl was our server. We were trying to decide between flights, and asked her about the different brews. Her response was that it was her first day and she didn't know anything about the beers except their names. Now, call me crazy but if one is working at a brewery, one would most likely expect at least a rudimentary knowledge of the offerings. Sigh. There was no offer to get a knowledgeable person (how about the dude at the bar? Maybe he could help with all the time he saved by not doing our tour!), so we just got 2 flights of each and ordered some pizza. Our flights were delivered backwards but named in order, further underscoring the fact that our server was in over her head. You can't tell me that the Pennywhistle is the one on the end that is as black as the heart of the dude at the bar who refused our tour. So here's the thing. I took my folks there because we all love beer. My brother brews, my hubs brews, WE. LOVE. BEER. Overall, disappointing in the experience/product knowledge/employee engagement areas. Beer was good, pizza was decent. I think I'll buy sixers at hyvee and pick up some Wig and Pen next time so I can not have a tour in the comfort of my own home.
(2)Chris R.
Went and had the same thing as my last review, but the big difference was the service! Jake did a fantastic job! Very attentive to our drinks and food order. Food came out hot, fresh and a timely manner. Not rushed, and not waiting for our food. Great job! Will be back for more. Ps, if you don't like chewy brick-fired pizza, go elsewhere.
(4)Sandy R.
Flight of beers: all disappointing brews- flavor lacking. Pizza flavor was okay but it's hard to like a pizza when the middle of the pie's crust is wet and soggy on the bottom. Service was prompt.
(2)Alex S.
I feel like the biggest issue with Backpocket is its mistaken for a restaurant. Its a brewery that has food to accommodate people who are drinking and would like a pizza or a little appetizer. Its not a restaurant, and people should stop reviewing like it is. I go to Backpocket for the beer. Not the food. Raygun IPA is where it's at!
(4)Ian J.
I stopped by here on a business trip and am thoroughly impressed. Nice decor in a large brewpub. But the highlight is the beer: OUTSTANDING! The best I've had in Iowa, which isn't saying too much, but it really ranks right up there with the best I've had anywhere. Perhaps my memory is fading since living in the "beer mecca" of SoCal, but it was very good, and I'm now a fan of Backpocket Brewing. Only negative I can think of is it was kinda pricey. I'll be stopping by next time I'm in town.
(4)Mark E.
Wow, what a disappointment. Terrible service and the food was just awful. The menu offers a 1/2 lb burger but when it arrived it was so tiny and so overcooked I knew something wasn't right. I decided to ask the waitress how the burger could possibly be 1/2 lb. She admitted that even though the menu said 1/2 lb they changed it to 1/4 lb but they haven't had time to update their menu's and she probably should have told us. Yes, she should have told us! It was the same $11 but half the size I think I'm entitled to know that information. Dishonest and I won't be returning to give them any more of my business. I'll be shocked if this place is still around next summer especially with their attitude towards their customers. Try the other restaurant in the same mall it looked great.
(1)Rhiannon W.
I came here with my parents and loved it! They got the Specialty flight while I tried the Pennywhistle, which I highly recommend! We all got different pizzas, and the margherita and BBQ chicken were phenomenal. The service was great--our waitress checked on us frequently and was very friendly. I highly recommend coming here!
(5)Heidi S.
Great beers. Try the sampler. Great deal for some great beers. Nice outside area to sit and visit. Great for groups and couples.
(5)Adrian D.
Really fun brewpub! Small restaurant in the front of the brewery. Nice selection of beers, all brewed on site. I had the Pennywhistle Hefeweizen, it tasted solidly like a traditional Hefe, but it had a nice touch of cinnamon. Also had a Yo Adrian! pizza, tasty and nicely spicy. Others in our group got nice salads. Overall, food was fine, but come for the beer!!
(5)Amanda C.
I wish you could give 1/2 stars on Yelp as I would give Backpocket 3.5. The beer is good but not blow your socks off amazing. I tried a specialty flight to get a nice cross section of what they offer but due to some miscommunication between the person pouring and our server I wasn't sure exactly which glass was which beer and sort of had to guess. They offer a few pizzas and flatbreads to munch on while you drink. We tried the Muschamp flatbread, which was quite good. The crust seemed to be handmade and had a nice char.Overall a really nice place to hang out after a football game and have a few beers.
(3)Scott S.
Appending my two previous reviews, we at there a couple weeks ago and the pizza was not as good as expected from previous visits, and the waitress, while friendly, didn't visit the table very often.
(4)Chris M.
Decent beer but they need to expand their dining menu. Lots of quick bar type foods.
(3)Emily M.
On a recent trek to see one of my most favorite artists of all time play at the Englert Civic Theatre, my husband and I decided to stop in for some beers and pizza at Backpocket Brewing. We arrived to find the Iowa-Ohio State game on and decided to get a booth that looked over the patio. That way we could still keep an eye on the game and do some people watching. We were seated right away and were able to order a flight of their 5 top beers. Our waitress was super friendly, and pretty on top of things. No complaints there. The beers, as other posters have noted are as follows : Slingshot Dunkel - Dark Lager Gold Coin Helles - Blond Lager Penny Whistle Wheat - Hefeweizen Wooden Nickel Peated Lager - Scottish Lager Jackknife GPA - Pale Ale They also had a RayGun Ale on tap, which I didn't try. The menu, however, was probably the most disappointing thing about Backpocket. I do realize it's a brewery, but it was my understanding it was a brewpub. (I could be wrong!) They had a very limited menu. I understand if they want to focus on the beers.... if that's the case, make sure that's clearly stated. We went in thinking we had a few other options, other than pizza and some apps. We got the pizza but it seemed to be lacking a bit - although decently sized for one person, it arrived kind of luke-warm and just didn't seem all that great. Coming from WI, I just wasn't all that impressed with the beers. Maybe it was being spoiled from places like Lakefront and New Glarus, but I wasn't as wowed by the beers as I was hoping to be. Still, it was a good place to have a few brews and a meal before a show. If we're ever in the area again, we would consider it.
(3)Matt U.
After hearing both good and bad from this new spot, we decided to try it out with some friends and we were very happy with the decision. Ample outdoor seating and realtively limited seating inside with both benches and small booths inside. Work checking out the outside if you're in the mood. The beer selection currently includes the five brews prepared on site. The Lager is spectacular and the Dunkel is quickly becoming legendary. Apparently the first few batches were sub-par, but at this point, their right on the money. At $4 for a pint and $5 for a 22 oz, trying a couple is much easier than most other places in the area. The 5 offerings are listed below. Slingshot Dunkel - German Dark Lager Gold Coin Helles - German Blond Lager Penny Whistle Wheat - Bavarian Hefeweizen Wooden Nickel Peated Lager - Scottish style Lager Jackknife GPA - German Pale Ale As far as food goes, they've got mosly small plates along with a good variety of brick oven pizzas. Early reports were that most of the pizzas were burnt, however the three our group tried were splendid. The meat combo was particularly good and the margherita left something to be desired. At $9 a shot, they were a little on the high side, but overall were a key part of a solid evening. The cheese tray was also good, but the game changer was the Nutella and Bacon dessert pizza. They took awesome and multiplied it by pork! Salty sweet that left us wanting for naught and gave us yet another reason to come back!
(4)Sam B.
Beers are named after things that fit in your back pocket. Focus is on the beer not the food, as it should be. Excellent beers. Only peat flavored beer I've found in the US, in the Wooden Nickel bock. Pizza made in a real pizza oven is a perfect complement to the beer. Wait staff is attentive. Tap room is in the brewery and the building was built for the brewery. Worth a visit. Out door fire pit is sweet. Tour at 5:30 weekdays.
(4)Donald Y.
Stopped in here after the Hawkeye spring scrimmage and wasn't disappointed. The taproom itself is a little small but luckily we found a high top table open. They also have a nice outside area setup with a fire pit. The beers are all excellent. Most of their main beers they bottle and distribute so I knew what I was getting into before I went in. They do brew a handful of speciality beers they only serve there on tap. I see they also have a mug club based on the mugs hanging over the bar. Food wise they only have appetizers and brick oven pizzas. We opted for the BBQ Chicken pizza and it was very good. I really liked the crust and the BBQ sauce was sweet and flavorful. Definitely will be back when in town!
(4)Lane H.
I have had several of the beers that they offer, but today I had The Wooden Nickle and I am in love! The flavor was amazing, I liked the smokey tones and it was the type of beer that went perfect with the bbq I was enjoying at the Celtic Fest. (It was official Scottish BBQ- lol) Great work guys and I'm planning on drinking a lot more of this.
(4)Bill Y.
Walking in you are hit square in the nose with the smell of wort... Which translates into fresh local beer. They serve food, but make no mistake - this is a brewery, you should respect it as that. The beer and bartenders are both delightful and they have no problem telling you if a keg or brew is great or bad. If a beer is bad, they'll tell you and give you a sample, apologize, and recommend something else - as a beer fan I love tasting failed experiments as much as rockstar brews! A must visit for beer fans in coralville!
(4)Jenna B.
I love this place. Good food, great beers, great prices, awesome atmosphere. I like how you can buy bees for people and leave it on the board. It feels like a place I'd find in uptown Minneapolis, but with much better prices and parking. The bartenders/servers know their product well.
(5)Amy J.
Beers are decent although I was horribly disappointed by the layers of dust over everything. We sat at the bar and the shelf that holds the mug club mugs had a layer of dust as did the straws on the bar and the napkin dispenser too! The wait staff seemed oblivious to the filth,(there were plenty of them working).They chatted amongst themselves, when they could of spent the time cleaning. Very disappointed. I hope this place is cleaned up soon.
(2)Mike D.
I think Backpocket Brewing is a great place to enjoy some great local beers. I love the set up and how new the building is. I haven't had there food there recently but the last time we did it wasn't anything to brag about, but it is a brewery so I'm not there to eat haha. The seating area is a little small but the patio in the summer time is Amazing!! Cant wait to be there this summer.
(4)Margaret L.
This is a great little brewery in Coralville, with a fun atmosphere and fantastic service. I rolled in here with a group of friends around noon (the beginning of socially-acceptable beer drinking hours) and we picked a booth and sat down with no wait. The server was immediately over to greet us and take our orders (we all got the beer flight- 5 little sampler glasses). All of the beers that I tried were good- the peat beer was earthy and aromatic, and the Gold Coin was a table-wide favorite. Nothing was too overpowering or exotic, which can happen when breweries are trying to show off. I'd rather not be assaulted by hops all the time, you know? So, overall this is a good place to sample lots of tasty brews, receive great service, and hey- if you get too drunk there's a Marriott right across the street!
(4)Raisa S.
The pizza is mediocre. The beer is bland. The salads are overdressed and sour. The servers seem nice at first but they will not even attempt to fix anything if you mention that something is not right with the food. This place is sad.
(1)Rob D.
Beers are excellent - when in stock. They seem to be getting that pretty well ironed out. Food is excellent but selection is very small - needs to be expanded. Atmosphere and decor is awesome.
(4)Terri G.
My husband and I stopped by Backpocket on Saturday, August 2 to hear a new local band perform on the patio out front. It was very crowded. We could barely get inside the door to get our name on the wait list for a table. We requested first available and waited at least 20 minutes. We got seated inside and then waited at least another 20 minutes for service, which we received only because I flagged down the host and told him we needed to be waited on. Our poor waitress was running ragged and told us the manager had let several people off for vacation that week. As far as we could tell, there were only 4-5 wait staff waiting on several hundred customers! This place needs new management. Our food wasn't great, but no one goes to a brewery for the food. Beer was good as always. Backpocket: Please prepare better for busy weekend events. We won't be returning soon.
(2)Michael H.
This place just opened about 6 months ago when I traveled through here and stayed at the Marriott next door. It's brand new and looks great. You can see the huge brewing equipment through the windows and up close inside. The beer selection is about 5 classic beers with seasonal and others at various times of year. They also make their own root beer and orange soda. The main staple food here is pizza. They have a few salads and apps also
(4)Hyung S.
1) I don't know if it's the manager or an owner, but he is not friendly, and does not hesitate to scream at people in public. 2) The disrespect shown by them to their neighbors by having late night outside concerts with the sound systems pointing to a residential building is flabbergasting. 3) The pizza is not good. The salads and other food are downright disappointing. The "beer cheese" is okay, though. It's essentially a cold cheese spread served with flatbread. If you want to risk being subjected to outright abuse, that's what to order. 4) The beer is okay, but nothing to write home about. Having lived in Milwaukee, and having family in Madison, I know what remarkable beer is, and this is not it.
(1)Robyn W.
Recently stopped by here while visiting a friend in the area. Beer was great, and service didn't disappoint either. Bartender was very friendly and explained each brew. We had a great time here. I cannot speak for the food as we did not eat here. Will definitely visit here again.
(5)Michelle B.
Love this place, but they don't hold reservations...you can try to make one, but they might call and cancel on you 2 hours before hand. :( The beer is REALLY good, and their food is great too. Brick oven pizza and beer cheese dip is where it's at. Also they just started showing movies in their outdoor area on a blowup screen, and have a huge firepit!
(4)Melissa T.
Most of our friends told us Backpocket is, "Good for beers, terrible for food, but the pizza is decent". Last night we got together with friends and secured a 6:15pm reservation for 12 (i.e. read: they knew we were coming with a large party) for the patio. We arrived at 6:15pm, were seated right away, and our entire party was there by 6:25pm. NOT A SINGLE SERVER APPROACHED OUR TABLE UNTIL 6:45pm (half an hour after the first of us arrived). This was only after I got up and flagged down a server. We placed our entire order right away. We were annoyed but tried to give them the benefit of the doubt. We watched the smaller parties around us steadily had their orders taken, served their drinks, appetizers and food. By 7:10pm (FIFTY-FIVE MINUTES, 55!) only HALF of our table was given water glasses. By that point, I went in to speak to the manager. He sheepishly explained they were short servers and offered to compensate our first round of drinks. WHAT ROUND OF DRINKS?! WE ALL HADN'T EVEN RECEIVED WATER? If we could have walked out, we would have, though we were celebrating a friend's engagement. It took not only myself, but another member of our party to complain to the manager, did the service finally improve. I pointed out that we watched several tables around us be served. We finally received our drinks and food. Our server was apologetic, as it was clear it was not her fault. She had to man too many tables, and this was the err of the POOR management staffing. I'm giving them 2 stars, instead of 1, as they did compensate our first round of drinks. While it's near hotel(s), it's good for them that out of town visitors will sustain this restaurant. As local residents, we will not be back. 55 minutes just waiting for water, people....
(2)Rene V.
IF you're going to own a pizza oven, learn how to use it. The pizza is impressively bad. Seriously. With the equipment they have I dint understand how the pizzas come out doughy with no crisp and the toppings are slightly over done. Really nice staff, pretty good beers.
(2)Barry S.
I had a fun time with a friend of mine and we enjoyed the flights. I'm not a major beer drinker, but a great atmosphere and what I tasted, tasted good! Fun place for couples and groups too!
(4)Mike M.
Stopped in on this frigid night for some beer and pizza. There's not much in the way of beer descriptions on the board (particularly for the seasonal beers) so if you're not sure what type of beer you want definitely go with a beer flight; it's a good deal. Every time I've been here I've sat at the bar and have had no service issues- friendly bar staff and quick service. I tried the "Totonka" pizza tonight- buffalo chicken and blue cheese. It was awesome- the crust was done perfectly. It's been mentioned in plenty of other reviews but this is primarily a brewery that has a brick oven style pizza oven as well. If you go here expecting a full restaurant menu you're going to be disappointed.
(4)Allen W.
Great local brews. Was as advertised. Pizza was hot and the crust was crisp. Server was great and knowledgeable about the beers. Highly recommend the specialty flight if you like bolder flavored brews. Great stop close to the highway.
(5)Sarah P.
We waited for a few minutes for a server to notice us at our table. At first I was slightly annoyed and then I realized that it was probably because they were attending to AN ART CLASS. That's right. A painting class in a brewery. Oh how I wish we weren't on a tight schedule. Aside from that brand of awesomeness, all 6 of the beers were good, with at least 3 that I would have considered stellar. Then there's the pizza. We got the Tatonka. Buffalo chicken, blue cheese, and celery. Best buffalo chicken pizza I have ever had, and maybe even vying for a spot as best pizza I've ever eaten. Fan frickin' tastic! The crust was the perfect softness in the middle with crispy just ever so slightly blackened bubbly crust. The blue cheese flair was evenly distributed and the celery added the perfect crunch. Wow. Overall, this place was super awesome!
(5)Doreen D.
We were staying at the Mariott next door for a wedding and made our way here several times. The atmospher was fun. The place emptied out pretty early we thought on a Thursday as we were the last ones there at 10:30. But the bartender was great and told us alot about the place and it's growth. Over the course of our stay, we tried all the different brews and everyone had a favorite. We would have liked to buy one of the mugs (not join the club). It was disappointing that they weren't for sale. And if we lived in the area, it would be disappointing to have the mug club filled and not be able to join. The outdoor area looks like it will be a hit when the weather is warm. We just wish all our weddings could be located next to a cool brew pub.
(4)Bruce W.
Fantastic Pizza! Quality 16 oz hand crafted beers for $4.....sweet. Good variety of beers, which an emphasis on German beers.
(5)Erica L.
Great beers! Food is very good even with a limited menu. Soup and salad was delicious. Hubby enjoyed the BBQ chx pizza. Definitely check this place out.
(5)Rick M.
Traveling through Des Moines area and wandered in from my hotel. Great beer, wait staff enthusiastic and happy to discuss the offerings. Pizza was very good, place deserves a wider selection of food as menu very limited , but beer aficionados will not be disappointed!
(4)Sheila B.
Came here at 1pm on a Sunday afternoon. They were out of Wooden Nickle, which is one of their signatures and the beer I wanted. I ordered the Nachos and she tells me they're out of guacamole and the chili isn't ready yet so I can't order that. So I order a pizza with chicken, spinach, basil, and tomato. Five minutes later she comes back and says they are out of chicken. How do you run out of chicken, guacamole, and a favorite beer all at the same time? She kept blaming it on Fry Fest and some bike race that was ending nearby, but they knew about those months in advance and should have been able to plan for that. I hate to see what they're going to do when people want that for dinner later tonight... Will not be returning.
(1)Trevor F.
pretty sweet place, dont stop here before a Hawks game, its hard to get in and out even for drinks unless you go early and get out after one.
(3)Whitney L.
Love the Slingshot, always a good go to! The Beer Cheese is a great app to snack on while you drink the local brews!
(5)Austin B.
Now that they have all the beers and pizza and seating going, this place is awesome! Beer prices are more than reasonable given the quality, which is excellent. If I could just get convince all my friends who live in IC that Coralville isn't on another planet, I would come here all the time!
(5)Brett S.
Incompetent wait staff. Would not accommodate my wife and newborn in stroller. Walked out.
(1)Eric H.
The beers are good but this place seems poorly run. Ive been here a handful of times and have been disappointed each time by either the lack of service or the lack of available items that day. Each time I've been there they've been out of ingredients to make the pizza I want or have been out of the beers themselves. The last time it was hard to get any help from a server, we had to keep chasing her down just to even get some basic silverware. it's sad because I really want to like this place but have left disappointed every time. I don't think we'll be going back.
(2)Jason J.
1.5 hour wait for pizza. Simply unacceptable
(1)Fashion I.
Dopplebock is yummy. Unique flavor...pies good too!
(4)Kathyl J.
Beer was good. Few selections of the home brews. Unless you ONLY want pizza, don't go for a meal. One of our party ordered a spinach salad that was so wilted he said it felt pre-chewed. Another said to leave off the dressing due to gluten concern...the salad came dressed. On Friday and Saturday nights we were told they cook out burgers and brats. We ordered two burgers, one was still uncooked in the middle. The real kicker is they were served! on cheap paper plates the server could barely hold to keep the items on. Other than catsup and mustard, there were no other fixings for the burgers....lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles etc. c'mon!!! The server was very gracious and charged us only for the beer and one pizza we took with us. This was a VERY disappointing visit. I doubt we will be back.
(2)Carmen T.
Went there and had to sit at picnic tables in the actual brewery with fluorescent lighting didn't stay to eat. Had one beer and left.
(2)Mike W.
Good beer, good pizza- love the goat cheese pizza! We wish they had multiple sizes for pizza.
(4)Jennifer T.
Very casual and the food is fine, nothing special. I wish restaurants in Iowa city would serve something other than pizza and burgers. Good if you need a bite one night and don't want to cook. Wait staff was amateur and the lettuce/pickles for my burger came in a plastic wrapped cup, which was strange. They would probably come across a bit more polished if they took the chips out of the bag and out them on the plate too. the beer was good. Just not a foodie destination or anything. But I didn't expect it to be since it's in coralville, which is generally a culinary wasteland.
(3)Doreen D.
We were staying at the Mariott next door for a wedding and made our way here several times. The atmospher was fun. The place emptied out pretty early we thought on a Thursday as we were the last ones there at 10:30. But the bartender was great and told us alot about the place and it's growth. Over the course of our stay, we tried all the different brews and everyone had a favorite. We would have liked to buy one of the mugs (not join the club). It was disappointing that they weren't for sale. And if we lived in the area, it would be disappointing to have the mug club filled and not be able to join. The outdoor area looks like it will be a hit when the weather is warm. We just wish all our weddings could be located next to a cool brew pub.
(4)Bruce W.
Fantastic Pizza! Quality 16 oz hand crafted beers for $4.....sweet. Good variety of beers, which an emphasis on German beers.
(5)Erica L.
Great beers! Food is very good even with a limited menu. Soup and salad was delicious. Hubby enjoyed the BBQ chx pizza. Definitely check this place out.
(5)Rick M.
Traveling through Des Moines area and wandered in from my hotel. Great beer, wait staff enthusiastic and happy to discuss the offerings. Pizza was very good, place deserves a wider selection of food as menu very limited , but beer aficionados will not be disappointed!
(4)Michelle B.
Love this place, but they don't hold reservations...you can try to make one, but they might call and cancel on you 2 hours before hand. :( The beer is REALLY good, and their food is great too. Brick oven pizza and beer cheese dip is where it's at. Also they just started showing movies in their outdoor area on a blowup screen, and have a huge firepit!
(4)Sarah P.
We waited for a few minutes for a server to notice us at our table. At first I was slightly annoyed and then I realized that it was probably because they were attending to AN ART CLASS. That's right. A painting class in a brewery. Oh how I wish we weren't on a tight schedule. Aside from that brand of awesomeness, all 6 of the beers were good, with at least 3 that I would have considered stellar. Then there's the pizza. We got the Tatonka. Buffalo chicken, blue cheese, and celery. Best buffalo chicken pizza I have ever had, and maybe even vying for a spot as best pizza I've ever eaten. Fan frickin' tastic! The crust was the perfect softness in the middle with crispy just ever so slightly blackened bubbly crust. The blue cheese flair was evenly distributed and the celery added the perfect crunch. Wow. Overall, this place was super awesome!
(5)Sheila B.
Came here at 1pm on a Sunday afternoon. They were out of Wooden Nickle, which is one of their signatures and the beer I wanted. I ordered the Nachos and she tells me they're out of guacamole and the chili isn't ready yet so I can't order that. So I order a pizza with chicken, spinach, basil, and tomato. Five minutes later she comes back and says they are out of chicken. How do you run out of chicken, guacamole, and a favorite beer all at the same time? She kept blaming it on Fry Fest and some bike race that was ending nearby, but they knew about those months in advance and should have been able to plan for that. I hate to see what they're going to do when people want that for dinner later tonight... Will not be returning.
(1)Trevor F.
pretty sweet place, dont stop here before a Hawks game, its hard to get in and out even for drinks unless you go early and get out after one.
(3)Eric H.
The beers are good but this place seems poorly run. Ive been here a handful of times and have been disappointed each time by either the lack of service or the lack of available items that day. Each time I've been there they've been out of ingredients to make the pizza I want or have been out of the beers themselves. The last time it was hard to get any help from a server, we had to keep chasing her down just to even get some basic silverware. it's sad because I really want to like this place but have left disappointed every time. I don't think we'll be going back.
(2)Jason J.
1.5 hour wait for pizza. Simply unacceptable
(1)Fashion I.
Dopplebock is yummy. Unique flavor...pies good too!
(4)Kathyl J.
Beer was good. Few selections of the home brews. Unless you ONLY want pizza, don't go for a meal. One of our party ordered a spinach salad that was so wilted he said it felt pre-chewed. Another said to leave off the dressing due to gluten concern...the salad came dressed. On Friday and Saturday nights we were told they cook out burgers and brats. We ordered two burgers, one was still uncooked in the middle. The real kicker is they were served! on cheap paper plates the server could barely hold to keep the items on. Other than catsup and mustard, there were no other fixings for the burgers....lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles etc. c'mon!!! The server was very gracious and charged us only for the beer and one pizza we took with us. This was a VERY disappointing visit. I doubt we will be back.
(2)Carmen T.
Went there and had to sit at picnic tables in the actual brewery with fluorescent lighting didn't stay to eat. Had one beer and left.
(2)Mike W.
Good beer, good pizza- love the goat cheese pizza! We wish they had multiple sizes for pizza.
(4)Jennifer T.
Very casual and the food is fine, nothing special. I wish restaurants in Iowa city would serve something other than pizza and burgers. Good if you need a bite one night and don't want to cook. Wait staff was amateur and the lettuce/pickles for my burger came in a plastic wrapped cup, which was strange. They would probably come across a bit more polished if they took the chips out of the bag and out them on the plate too. the beer was good. Just not a foodie destination or anything. But I didn't expect it to be since it's in coralville, which is generally a culinary wasteland.
(3)Lauren D.
Solid food, good beer, good service... what more could you ask for? Appetizers are pretty good. Honestly its a great place to get a beer and socialize. I like the beer cheese as an appetizer, it is pretty spicy but addicting. Pizza isn't NYC pizza, but for Iowa its good. Never had a bad meal here. During the summer they have the grill open. Haven't had anything from there, but looking forward to trying it this summer (if it ever gets here).
(4)Chris M.
Hailing from Oregon, where brewing has become both an art and a science, I was eager to test out what the Midwest had to offer. Back Pocket was the one place I made a point to test out twice, and with good reason. It's not exactly easy to find, located in some new development area. But they are very good at what they do, which is brewing beer. Only once did I order food, and don't remember what it was. Probably because I was so focused on the beer. Maybe it was timing, but every other time I tried going through Iowa City and scoping out breweries, the only other options were closed, or parking was an issue. But being a short jaunt off the highway, and with plenty of parking, Back Pocket was very convenient, with great outdoor seating. I particularly liked their Hefeweizen, or should I say Dunkelweizen. Any place deserves props for doing that.
(5)Kelli J.
Between the three of us, we had Slingshot (dunkel), Wooden Nickel (peated bock), Swabian Hall Smoked Brown and Gold Coin (helles). All were wonderful! We also had brats with potato salad, pretzel and a special blue cheese bacon burger pizza. Very good with beer. Service was very good.
(4)Kyle P.
They always seem to be out of something. The last time I went in it was ice cream and one of the beers that they brew. How do you run out of a beer that you brew on site?! The service is very hit or miss depending on the night. The only thing that keeps me coming back is they are the only place in eastern Iowa that offers Geeks who Drink trivia. If it weren't for the trivia night I would never go here. The food, when they do have it, is mediocre at best. The beer is sub-par based on the other selections you can get in Iowa, other Iowa craft breweries offer better beers. Save your money and the extra 500 feet and grab dinner at 30 Hop instead.
(1)Mike M.
Great beers, check. Great pizza, check. Can't decide on what beer to get? No worries, get a flight and enjoy 5 of their delicious beers. If you are an IPA fan, I highly recommend the Raygun. If only I had a way to take it back home with me. You lucky people up here can fill up a growler and take home their brews, those of us that live 1000 miles away aren't so lucky. So take advantage of your location and give these guys a try.
(4)Derek J.
I can't wait to try Backpockets new Stout. I hope it's good. The bar fare here is great, and the landscaping outside, and activities they always have going on are not to be missed. I really like the whole River Landing area, it's a huge improvement for the entire area. I do take issue with how the city of Coralville's government is handling the river landing with respect to Iowa City, but I can't ding the businesses for that.
(5)Keith S.
This was a pleasant surprise. I was making my way back north and needed a lunch stop. My travel partner from Cedar Rapids decided we needed to go here. Now, I did not have a beer as I was in the middle of a 10 hr haul so I can't comment on that. Beer is obviously a main point of the destination here. I'll comment on the rest. Really liked the space. Had I not been with my friend, I wouldn't have recognized it as a restaurant. Looks more like a warehouse/retail front. Big windows up front, unique seating, very open. It felt like a small "gastropub" (I hate that word) in a brewery...which makes a lot of sense I guess since that is what it is. Anyways. Concise menu. Single serve pizzas with a special that changes out. I ordered the BBQ chicken pizza. Great crust. Great BBQ taste that doesn't overpower it and wasn't too sweet. I had the home brewed root beer as well, that was very good. Service was great. Prices were good. Would definitely go back.
(4)Robert M.
Good Pizza. The beer was spot on for each style, but was sad they were out of the Raygun.
(4)Amanda M.
Everyone was really friendly! It had a great atmosphere. The beer was great. They are known for their root beer too which I have had, it was good! We had their margherita flatbread- it was super tasty! Wish they had more on their menu. Overall, great local place to go for beer and apps.
(4)Sunyang F.
One of my favorite bar in town. Unique homemade beers and good environment. If they offer more snack choices, then will be perfect
(4)Brandon L.
Pros: 1. Excellent atmosphere inside and out. 2. The food has been great, particularly the pizza and nachos. 3. Has great events that commonly feature other craft breweries from other states. Cons: 1. Service is usually a bit too casual - have not sat at the bar though. 2. For my palate, the beer tends to be a bit too bland - hope this improves over time with their specialty brews.
(3)Rachel L.
Backpocket Brewery's beer garden is absolutely perfect! A large fire pit encircled by patio chairs, several tables with umbrellas, and a grassy lawn which would be perfect for the beer garden movie nights (I have yet to make it to one). Backpocket plays host to some great gatherings (Border Hop, anyone?) and makes some crazy delicious fire-baked pizza! That mushroom and blue cheese flatbread? oh. my. word. The beer is good but nothing has topped my favorites list yet. They seem to specialize in bright summer brews so I was a little disappointed in the offerings through this past winter. They also make their own sodas and so far have always had root beer, plus an additional rotating option. I've tried the ginger ale and it wasn't quite ginger-y enough but otherwise delicious (not ridiculously sugary or over-carbonated). The biggest thing I've been disappointed with is the customer service. If you sit at the bar or outside, you're golden. But sit in the booths lining the awesome wall of windows and you'll likely be forgotten. I'm a regular here and even though I'm hardly ever around during busy times, I've had to walk up to the bar on multiple occasions to either get a refill on my beer, place a pizza order, or to get my bill.
(3)Daniel S.
One of the very few, if not the only, craft brewpub in the IC/coralville area (I havent lived here in years so i may be wrong) but the beers I got were good,-the raygun and jackknife, we got a chips guac app which was fine, the food menu is pretty limited, just pizzas for entrees, so maybe not a good dinner place, but the beer is well priced, if you like craft beer id recommend going
(4)Marjorie S.
We stopped by for Octoberfest last night. While the management and our waitress (I wish I remembered her name, but she did have a lip piercing I believe) were wonderful, we experienced pretty awful service from the hostess. I understand working in the service industry, I've been there, but she was flat out rude in all of her responses and gave us attitude when we asked if we could grab drinks while we waited for a table. She basically rolled her eyes at us and made us feel unwelcome (also didn't even take our name for the waiting list). The rest of the event was fun and everyone else treated us nicely, but I can't help but complain about someone essentially not doing their job.
(3)Rachel G.
Well, I gave it a try and now know that I never need to go back. I stopped in for lunch and was immediately underwhelmed by the food options on the menu. I ultimately ended up settling for a pizza since nothing else seemed all that appealing. My disappointment continued when I took my first bite of the BBQ Chicken pizza I ordered. It really wasn't very good. I assume people head here for the beer and not the food. However, my beer was fine but not phenomenal. With craft beers being so big these days I'm sure there are plenty of other places in the area that can deliver on quality brews AND good food. Next time I will head elsewhere.
(2)Amy S.
Excellent wood fired pizza, brews, & atmosphere. They feature revolving visiting brews along with their own beers. I really enjoy the Slingshot dunkel. The service has been ok on our visits-we go for the beer. Note that their food selection includes appetizers and pizza, it's not a full menu. The beer is the feature at Backpocket. They also have a large patio with a fire pit which is nice to sit by while enjoying a beverage. Check out the brewery tours there too. We haven't been on one but look forward to it on a visit soon.
(5)Harris B.
I'm sure their beer is good. Dropped in a little before closing trying to meet up with my buddy for his bachelor party. Could of had a quick beer, but Chris was pretty insistent that although it was "last call" they are now closed. Would have been happy to get in and out. Here for few more days but won't be back. I even called ahead to see how late they stay open. Drove two hours to be here. Total let down.
(1)Alex W.
This place was pretty neat. I was staying at the Marriott next-door for a conference and our weekend started here. The local alumni group had reserved their production area with tables and appetizers for any of us to enjoy. At times there wasn't much space [there were a lot of us] but it wasn't a huge concern for me. I was able to try a few slices of pizza, their cheese bread, nachos, and a few other goodies. I had low expectations for a brewery to serve good food, but man it was great! Service was phenomenal - the operations manager and a brewery worker kept on our drink orders as well as keeping the food coming out. I was advised to try a couple of beers before ordering a pint, so I went ahead and ordered the massive Supa' Fly't. Unfortunately it was 50/50 like/dislike on their beers. I was disappointed that there was no Hefe to try [temporarily out of stock I believe]. The few that stood out were the Bock, APA, IPA, and the cider. Everything else was not that great or just meh. I really enjoy darker-color/darker-flavor beers [stouts, dunkels, etc] but I couldn't finish my tasters after a small sip. One of the coolest things was drinking out of Das Boot! Roughly 7-8 glasses in total of one beer, and you cannot set the thing down, otherwise you pay for the entire beverage. My partner and I were helped out with a few other convention-goers. What a nice way to network with people by helping a friend out with their beer!
(4)M O.
As a microbrewery, pretty solid. As a restaurant, it can be hit or miss. The beer selection is decent. I'm not a huge fan of the standard offerings but the seasonal and guest need can be a treat. The menu is limited but the food is good. The brick oven pizzas go especially well with a few beverages. For what it is, I would give the place 4 stars, except for how they perform on busy nights. If it is packed, expect VERY slow service, possibly burnt pizza, overworked waiters, and a generally less than ideal experience. The beer is still okay.
(3)Jessica G.
Beer is hit and miss. Pizzas are good but be warned that the menu is small. Patio is great if you can find a spot.
(2)