This year has been rough for most people and for many businesses, especially those in the hospitality industry. With government-based relief far from certain and many more months before things return to any approximation of “normal”, 2021 promises to be another tough year. This will probably have a lasting impact on the craft beer industry, even if we don’t see an immediate flood of breweries shutting down, the debt that many are taking on in order to stay open might lead to issues down the road. It is important to remember that many breweries and taprooms were having struggles even before the pandemic, it is a competitive and ever changing industry. At the end of last year Backlash announced that they had closed their Roxbury taproom. After years of success as a popular local contract brand, it took a long journey filled with starts-and-stops and red tape for Backlash to finally open their own taproom, so it was disappointing to see the taproom go under. Backlash assured fans that the brand wasn’t done, so there was widespread excitement when Backlash dropped their first new release this month, a double IPA named Defy the Odds. Backlash Defy the Odds is available on a rotating basis on draft and in 16 oz cans.
Backlash Defy the Odds pours a very hazy deep orange with a solid off-white head. The aroma features a solid burst of fruity hops, very tropical. These hops also lead the flavor, notes of pineapple, guava and grapefruit along with the slightest hint of bitterness. Some malt balance rounds out the flavor, contributing hints of cereal and bread dough. Defy the Odds is medium-bodied and smooth, but packs some punch at 8.2% ABV. The finish is crisp and pretty clean with some lingering hop flavor. This is a tasty DIPA, it is great to have Backlash beers available again, I look forward to drinking more of them in the near future! Hoppy Boston score: 4.25/5.
Previous Backlash Reviews:
Backlash Fenway, Backlash Mother of Invention, Backlash Citra Salute, Backlash Ricochet, Backlash Muerte, Backlash Oath, Backlash Convergence, Backlash Chaos, Backlash Redux
Hoppy Boston 
