Dragonfly IPA | Upland Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Upland Brewing Company
Indiana, United States
uplandbeer.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
India Pale Ale originated when the British Empire was at its height. British soldiers and civil servants were stationed all over the globe (including India), and regular ales could not survive the long journey by sea to reach them. The British solved this terrible dilemma by adding excessive amounts of hops to their beer–using the preservative properties of hops to increase the life of their beers.
Our Dragonfly India Pale Ale is true to this tradition, featuring seven hop additions to create a powerful hop profile. A solid malt base, however, tempers the bitter American hops, giving Dragonfly a balance not often found in this style. The end product is a well-balanced, malty beer with the crisp taste of hops and an exceptionally floral nose.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 04-08-2002
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Ratings: 740 | Reviews: 216
2.8/5 rDev -18.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.93/5 rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
4.34/5 rDev +25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
3.47/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.4/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I've been on a bit of an IPA kick recently and picked this one up at a local liquor store that was having a special on make your own 6 packs. Figured I'd give this one a shot since I hadn't had it yet, plus it's brewed only 45 minutes from where I grew up.
This beer pours a cloudy, orangish-amber hue that is fairly opaque with moderate carbonation visible. It looks like unfiltered orange-pineapple juice more than anything. The head is off white with an orange tint and is thick and foamy, dissipating very slowly to a rocky layer with a neck that is retained nicely. 3.75/5 The aroma is just like I described the appearance (like unfiltered orange-pineapple juice). This beer is thick with fruit and fruity sweetness, although a bit of pine resin seeps in as well, providing a sharpness to the sweetness. As the beer warms, a bit of citrus peel comes through, complementing the orange-tangerine-pineapple aroma. 3.75/5 The flavor leans heavily towards sweet, but this sweetness dissipates to a graininess part way through that remains through the end. The hops really don't show up here in the form of any bitterness (bitterness is light and lingers only light after swallowing), rather showing up as flavor undertones of oranges, papaya, and pineapple. The sweetness up front is a dank, mango fruitiness (odd dankness) that comes off a bit musty. 3.25/5 This is a medium bodied beer that is light on carbonation and is a bit sticky on the tongue with just a bit of creaminess. It is a bit astringent on the back end and puckers the tongue from the sides just a bit. 3.25/5 This IPA is a bit odd for me. The dankness and mustiness just don't work with the rest of the flavors. Based on the appearance and aroma, I really expected it to be bursting full of juicy fruitiness, but that really isn't the case. The "solid malt base" as is described, tempers the hops a bit too much for me. 3.25/5
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I've been on a bit of an IPA kick recently and picked this one up at a local liquor store that was having a special on make your own 6 packs. Figured I'd give this one a shot since I hadn't had it yet, plus it's brewed only 45 minutes from where I grew up.
This beer pours a cloudy, orangish-amber hue that is fairly opaque with moderate carbonation visible. It looks like unfiltered orange-pineapple juice more than anything. The head is off white with an orange tint and is thick and foamy, dissipating very slowly to a rocky layer with a neck that is retained nicely. 3.75/5 The aroma is just like I described the appearance (like unfiltered orange-pineapple juice). This beer is thick with fruit and fruity sweetness, although a bit of pine resin seeps in as well, providing a sharpness to the sweetness. As the beer warms, a bit of citrus peel comes through, complementing the orange-tangerine-pineapple aroma. 3.75/5 The flavor leans heavily towards sweet, but this sweetness dissipates to a graininess part way through that remains through the end. The hops really don't show up here in the form of any bitterness (bitterness is light and lingers only light after swallowing), rather showing up as flavor undertones of oranges, papaya, and pineapple. The sweetness up front is a dank, mango fruitiness (odd dankness) that comes off a bit musty. 3.25/5 This is a medium bodied beer that is light on carbonation and is a bit sticky on the tongue with just a bit of creaminess. It is a bit astringent on the back end and puckers the tongue from the sides just a bit. 3.25/5 This IPA is a bit odd for me. The dankness and mustiness just don't work with the rest of the flavors. Based on the appearance and aroma, I really expected it to be bursting full of juicy fruitiness, but that really isn't the case. The "solid malt base" as is described, tempers the hops a bit too much for me. 3.25/5
1,916 characters
3.69/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a clear golden amber in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation rising from the surface of the beer and faint golden yellow colored highlights. The beer has a finger tall foamy white head that quickly reduces to a few small patches of thin film surrounded by a large patch of very thin film covering the remainder if the surface of the beer with a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Slightly heavier than moderate amounts of lacing are observed.
S: There are slightly heavier than moderate aromas of biscuit + caramel malts with a light to moderate amount of sweetness. Moderate aromas of floral + grassy hops.
T: Upfront there are slightly stronger than moderate flavors of biscuit + caramel malts with a light to moderate amount of caramel sweetness. That is followed by light to moderate flavors of floral + grassy hops which impart a slightly heavier than light amount of bitterness which fades away slowly.
M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.
O: A more malty IPA, probably closer to an English one than an American one but definitely an enjoyable one. Easy to drink with well hidden alcohol.
1,148 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a clear golden amber in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation rising from the surface of the beer and faint golden yellow colored highlights. The beer has a finger tall foamy white head that quickly reduces to a few small patches of thin film surrounded by a large patch of very thin film covering the remainder if the surface of the beer with a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Slightly heavier than moderate amounts of lacing are observed.
S: There are slightly heavier than moderate aromas of biscuit + caramel malts with a light to moderate amount of sweetness. Moderate aromas of floral + grassy hops.
T: Upfront there are slightly stronger than moderate flavors of biscuit + caramel malts with a light to moderate amount of caramel sweetness. That is followed by light to moderate flavors of floral + grassy hops which impart a slightly heavier than light amount of bitterness which fades away slowly.
M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.
O: A more malty IPA, probably closer to an English one than an American one but definitely an enjoyable one. Easy to drink with well hidden alcohol.
1,148 characters
4/5 rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I think an..... okay..... on this beer is way under rated. It's very good in my opinion.
89 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I think an..... okay..... on this beer is way under rated. It's very good in my opinion.
89 characters
3.26/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle BB April 2017 poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass at fridge temp 6.7% ABV 65 IBU. The beer is bright and copper colored with off white head and fairly good retention and lacing. Aroma is caramel sweetness and vague hop. Taste is more caramel sweetness (too much) and a little generic bitterness. Mouthfeel is chalky and drier than you would expect given the taste. Overall, OK. I wouldn't normally review an IPA at its freshness limit, but I've had enough of this one to know what I'm drinking. If you find this on tap or in bottles (with a couple months to go) give it a try.
594 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle BB April 2017 poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass at fridge temp 6.7% ABV 65 IBU. The beer is bright and copper colored with off white head and fairly good retention and lacing. Aroma is caramel sweetness and vague hop. Taste is more caramel sweetness (too much) and a little generic bitterness. Mouthfeel is chalky and drier than you would expect given the taste. Overall, OK. I wouldn't normally review an IPA at its freshness limit, but I've had enough of this one to know what I'm drinking. If you find this on tap or in bottles (with a couple months to go) give it a try.
594 characters
3.5/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.78/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.48/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.75/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.62/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Cloudy dark amber color. Small head that settles to rim. Little lace.
Spicy black pepper aroma.
Biting hop bitterness with a very long aftertaste. Decent body with a light carbonation level. Overall, a rather two dimensional beer. Good flavor but not overly interesting.
274 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Cloudy dark amber color. Small head that settles to rim. Little lace.
Spicy black pepper aroma.
Biting hop bitterness with a very long aftertaste. Decent body with a light carbonation level. Overall, a rather two dimensional beer. Good flavor but not overly interesting.
274 characters
4.1/5 rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
My go to IPA. A little more harsh than some, but a hometown favorite
68 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
My go to IPA. A little more harsh than some, but a hometown favorite
68 characters
3.6/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.89/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Good IPA. Not very hoppy, crisp tasting with a clean finish. Could almost be characterized with a flat bland taste for an IPA. but very refreshing. I like this IPA after a work out to quench my thirst.
203 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Good IPA. Not very hoppy, crisp tasting with a clean finish. Could almost be characterized with a flat bland taste for an IPA. but very refreshing. I like this IPA after a work out to quench my thirst.
203 characters
Dragonfly IPA from Upland Brewing Company
Beer rating:
31.2% out of
100 with
740 ratings
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25