UPA (Upper Peninsula Ale)
Upper Hand Brewery
- From:
- Upper Hand Brewery
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
Ranked #1,003 - ABV:
- 5.1%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #30,697 - Avg:
- 3.73 | pDev: 9.65%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 23
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 30, 2025
- Added:
- Oct 31, 2014
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 28
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good
Upper Peninsula Ale is an American Pale Ale brewed just for the north. The use of toasted malt gives it a nice, deep golden color, and the Mosaic hops impart citrus, floral, and berry aromas, and give UPA® a crisp, moderately bitter finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
3.93/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I got a couple cans of this beer from a mixed 12pck that I bought at a grocery store in Delton, Michigan. It poured a clear amber with off white head that is not leaving any lace. The scent had fresh mix of malt and grain. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with bright semi sweet caramel malt base with grain presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a good beer.
Jan 11, 2025
Rated by bubseymour from Maryland
4.38/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A nice classic malty pale ale. Enjoyed while sitting at a pub in Escanaba, UP.
Jun 11, 2024
Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
3.86/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.86/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sampling a room temp 12 oz can poured into a sampling cup. Im in a hotel, best available! :)
Date stamp is enjoy by Jun 11, 2024. DONE.
The beer pours a clear amber to copper color with a fluffy khaki colored head foaming up about 1 cm. This foam fades quickly to a sturdy edge layer. It does leave some pretty dense lattice on the sides of the cup and this slowly slides down back to the surface of the beer.
The aroma on this beer is a little toasty grain and some citrusy hops and some general fruity note. No hint of the ABV, which is low, so that makes sense. Overall nose is on the mild side, but is also appealing and fits the style.
First sip reveals a light to medium body with very fine and tingly carbonation. Easy to drink beer here.
Flavor is a little more hoppy than malt as the toasted grain doesnt come through much, if at all. I get some citrus and fruitiness again, but not overly sweet anywhere. Finish is pretty dry and never hints on the ABV.
This is a good pale ale, not amazing but certainly isnt flawed. Glad to have had the chance to try this one.
Apr 08, 2024Date stamp is enjoy by Jun 11, 2024. DONE.
The beer pours a clear amber to copper color with a fluffy khaki colored head foaming up about 1 cm. This foam fades quickly to a sturdy edge layer. It does leave some pretty dense lattice on the sides of the cup and this slowly slides down back to the surface of the beer.
The aroma on this beer is a little toasty grain and some citrusy hops and some general fruity note. No hint of the ABV, which is low, so that makes sense. Overall nose is on the mild side, but is also appealing and fits the style.
First sip reveals a light to medium body with very fine and tingly carbonation. Easy to drink beer here.
Flavor is a little more hoppy than malt as the toasted grain doesnt come through much, if at all. I get some citrus and fruitiness again, but not overly sweet anywhere. Finish is pretty dry and never hints on the ABV.
This is a good pale ale, not amazing but certainly isnt flawed. Glad to have had the chance to try this one.
Reviewed by txaudiophile from Texas
3.84/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This is a good pale ale made in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Quite enjoyable on a warm day, but nothing to go crazy about. Worth checking out if you like pale ales from the Midwestern US.
Jun 28, 2023
Reviewed by miwestcoaster from Michigan
4.03/5 rDev +8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L- Slightly cloudy golden body with white top. Leaves some lacing on the glass.
S- Watermelon Jolly Ranchers is what I am picking up.
T- Melon, some fruits. Different and enjoyable.
F- Above average.
O- Nice offering from Upper Hand. Low abv at 5.5, which I applaud. Recommended.
Mar 18, 2023S- Watermelon Jolly Ranchers is what I am picking up.
T- Melon, some fruits. Different and enjoyable.
F- Above average.
O- Nice offering from Upper Hand. Low abv at 5.5, which I applaud. Recommended.
Reviewed by Beersnake from California
4.1/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured at fridge temp. Pours a semi-transparent orange with a good inch of fluffy head. The nose is orange creamsicle, bread, honey, floral, and a bit grainy.
The taste is fantastic. Tons of orange creamsicle. Wow. Vanilla, honey, marmalade, peaches, and bread. Lovely. Almost no hops detectable.
Mouthfeel is light, with a nice semi-sweet aftertaste.
Mar 09, 2023The taste is fantastic. Tons of orange creamsicle. Wow. Vanilla, honey, marmalade, peaches, and bread. Lovely. Almost no hops detectable.
Mouthfeel is light, with a nice semi-sweet aftertaste.
Rated by jkh15 from Michigan
3.79/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Really solid and refreshing! Not too hoppy, as a pale ale should be.
Jul 02, 2022
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!