Dragonfly IPA - Upland Brewing Company

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.56/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

This poured out as a decent golden color with a white head on top. The retention and lacing were both unimpressive. The smell of the beer is malty, not much of a hop aroma at all on this beer. The taste of the beer is very malt forward with a very subtle bitterness in the finish but not nearly enough to make this a solid American IPA. The mouthfeel of the beer is pretty good, nicely carbonated and had a decent body to it as well. Overall not really an American IPA but more of an old English one with the earthy hops and malts that this beer has.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 04:18:37 | More by Knapp85

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Type: on tap pitcher
Glass: pitcher to pint
From: upland in Bloomington
Price: $9

Appearance: light yellowy orange. slightly hazy and a decent size head that fades slowly

Smell: citrus and piney hops

Taste: citrus and pine hops and a grainy taste. some weaker caramel malts

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. some upfront bitterness that dies quickly. kinda weird aftertaste

Overall: a decent ipa. but nothing spectacular

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2013 01:11:16 | More by SportsandJorts

russpowell

Oklahoma

2.96/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Picked this up near FT. Knox KY, alas there were no sours on the shelf. Bottled on Oct 2012

Pours golden/honey colored with a thumb of beige colored head. Above average lacing, average head retention

S: Slight grassyness & herbal notes

T: Grassyness, lemon rinds, & bitter orange & some pear fruittyness up front. Grapefruit, grassyness & faint breadyness as this warms, plus some leafy hops. Finishes with herbal & leafy bitterenss, plus a touch of orchard fruit

MF: Light bodied, subtle carbonation, alright balance

Seems more like an English IPA, not impressed, drinks easy enough. Kind of a underwhleming first beer from these guys

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 03:56:14 | More by russpowell

Ryan011235

Ohio

2.03/5  rDev -40.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Poured into an Olde hickory glass on 12/3/12

Bottled on Aug '12

The color is a honey-brown sort of amber. One thumb head deflates slowly. Thin, wispy retention. Decent enough lace - forms into rings further down the glass.

An IPA with notes of dough, bread and candy that all but drown out a meager-as-it-is pine hop notion? It's the sort of thing that moves the old "expectation bar" down good few notches.

Dragonfly is loaded with dead IPA flavors - bread dough, candied sugars a hollow middle that's begging for oxidation, hop decay and a residual bitterness on the finish. I wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't particularly hoppy to begin with.

The feel is a slick-up-front medium with a dusty finish. Carbonation is kept in check in the moderately low range.

If I find a fresher bottle I might give this another shake because it's disappointing as is.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 06:32:12 | More by Ryan011235

barczar

Kentucky

3.45/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy copper color, clear, with solid one inch khaki head that leaves spotty lacing.

Perfumey hops open the aroma, floral, then they're overtaken by a backdrop of citrus. Grapefruit and lime easily overpower a light bready caramel malt backbone.

Flavor has far less hop character. Toasted breadcrust is too powerful to let the hops shine. There's a bit of staleness throughout, likely attributable to lesser quality hops. Lime and general citrus notes underlie the profile, finishing somewhat bitter and dry. Pine and grass become evident later.

Body is a touch watery, with fairly high carbonation and slight astringency at the finish.

Overall, lacking in quality hop character, and the malt that comes through isn't very flavorful. Body is a touch offputting, as well.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 02:29:48 | More by barczar

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Last time I had this I wasn’t too much of a hops fan; needless to say, it wasn’t my style. Now that that’s changed, let’s see how this one tastes…

Brewed two months before the date of this tasting (September ’12 notched on the label).

A: Foamy white head over a deep golden-orange body. The foam lowers to a silky cream retention, showing hardly any lacing.

S: Nice rounded vanilla malt backbone with a layering of citrusy hops on top. The strength has probably diminished over the past months on the shelf, but it’s certainly not bland. Peaches and cream, kiwi, and mango stand out over standard caramel and toffee, again with a vanilla warmth, making this seem sweet over tart.

T: There’s those malts first, silky sweet – taste a lot like a caramel or butterscotch candy, in fact, and it’s reminding of an English IPA. Big toffee and cake batter tastes, as well, before the palate shifts to some thick hops. Tastes of crisp pine needles, tart lemon juice, canned pineapple, and sweet dried cherries from the bitters, which blend with a complex, satisfying power. Toast and sweet cream on the aftertaste, mildly bready and dry.

M: Chewy with the malts, drying with the hops. Either this is just what I needed, or these guys just did it right.

O: If it’s done right, I’ll take an English IPA over an American IPA in many cases. Mainly, it’s the malt flavor that I enjoy; not the overly sweet DIPA intensity, but the sweet flavor of full, chewy grains. This one has is, and a nice hop intensity to match – not overpower – making it an easy drinker and, most likely, a beer I’ll be buying in the future.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 05:11:22 | More by BarryMFBurton

AmitC

Indiana

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nothing much to write about except for its smells and taste. Not a lot of hops.

In the glass, pours with a little head. A lot of bubbles, not a good thing and i would like to assume a good amount of carbonation. just a tad hazy otherwise very clear, amber brown color. There were some suspended white particles, may be yeast colonies. May be my bottle was a little old. I don't know.

Smell is very earthy, a little piney, floral and hoppy. Overall a good smell to have while drinking.

Taste Not very hoppy. decent complexity. pines, hops, earthy grassy notes. could have used a bit more bitterness. Not that it is at all sweet.

Mouthfeel. Pretty average. Oily resin like. Typical IPA feel but nothing too exciting.

Overall a decent effort. Nothing that i would buy again if i have better options.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 04:14:55 | More by AmitC

phiberoptik

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 8/12 - Pours a burnt copper/ sunshine with a soapy head that finishes with a white rim. Just a swirl and the head is back. Quality lacing.

Pine hop oil, lemon grass, slightly dank, sweet malts, whiffs of bread.

Taste is a bit lighter than the aroma. Hints of tropical fruit, grass, caramel malt, and a balanced bitter finish.

Lighter bodied, slightly thin. Great carbonation level.

Upland makes Lambics that people fight over, but this to me was just a middle of the road pale ale labeled as an IPA. Its not off putting or anything bad, just not as good as I was expecting.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 01:50:33 | More by phiberoptik

homebrew311

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appears a deep clear gold with quickly dissipating white head. Some lacing left behind. The nose is hoppy with earthy/woody notes along with caramel and pine. Taste starts with a healthy dose of bittering hops that provide earthy undertones which give way quickly to caramel and toast. The finish is dry and bready. Mouthfeel is moderate with medium carbonation. Overall, a standard IPA with a decent malt profile. Hops are a bit lacking.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 04:33:44 | More by homebrew311

rlee1390

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear orange, not much carbonation but it does leave behind some nice lacing.

S-Pine, dirt, some malt. Not very hoppy for an IPA.

T-Very earthy, pine and dirt, some resin. None to little bitterness as well.

M-Light to medium bodied, with some carbonation.

O-A boring, bland non aggressive IPA. Nothing to excite or knock your socks, even come close to removing them.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2012 21:42:54 | More by rlee1390

AgentK

3.83/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dragonfly has a decent hop flavor that is not too "in your face." It's definitely a nice starter IPA. The appearance does not seem too out of the ordinary from other IPAs, slightly goldenrod colored, and the smell definitely packs a punch. The first waft is of citrus and a grassy smell. I wouldn't describe the scent as "unpleasant" but it doesn't leave me flabbergasted. The taste was not abrasive, which is good, but it certainly leaves a strong aftertaste in your mouth (you'll be smelling/tasting this beer for several minutes after finishing).

I really enjoyed how balanced this particular IPA is. My only complaints are that it is slightly too carbonated for my tastes, and slightly too acidic for recreational drinking.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 22:29:06 | More by AgentK

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in a tulip glass)
bottled in March '12
A- This beer pours a slightly hazy aged copper body with a creamy light tan head that last as it sticks to the glass.

S- The aroma of slightly pungent lime hops fills the glass.

T- The slightly dry caramel malt flavor gives way to green hops that have some nice bright pungency to them. There is some Vienna malt and biscuit malt notes that finish in just a touch of sweetness.

M- The medium mouthfeel has a slightly creamy fizz to it and no alcohol heat noticed.

O- This beer has some nice malt depth under a nice full hop flavor.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 12:52:41 | More by rhoadsrage

jifigz

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Shrode21 for the trade on this one.

The appearance is a pretty typical IPA. A nice burnt orange with a decent head that didn't linger too long. There seems to be way more carbonation bubbles that a lot of other brews have. The aroma is dominated by clean citrus hop aroma. There are hints of tangerines, lemon, and grapefruit all apparent in the aroma. The taste is much more balanced than smell suggested to me. There is plenty of a toasted grain and barley taste that shines through and coalesces with the hop character very nicely. The mouthfeel is a medium body and a lot of the excessive carbonation that was there in the pour seems to have vanished.

Overall I think this beer is solid. Sure, it may not be a hop bomb like many other IPA's, but the balanced taste of this beer is very enjoyable and still offers a nice hop profile. Not excellent, but pretty good. Better than the 79 average that is currently carries.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 18:04:50 | More by jifigz

drabmuh

Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

One of the worst IPAs I've ever had, this brewery sucks at American ales. Beer is amber and clear with a nice one finger white head small bubbles, some lacing, moderate retention.

Aroma is a little piny and very buttery.

This beer is undrinkable. Butter butter butter butter butter, gross. I won't have any more beers from Upland.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2012 12:55:04 | More by drabmuh

WoodBrew

Illinois

4/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly-darkened golden color with a slight white head and not much of any lacing. The nose brings some light grapefruit and citrus hops along with a pretty hefty dose of sweetness. The taste is mild citrus bitterness with some nearly cloying sweetness in the background. Feel seems overly thick because of the sweetness. Some bitterness to save it, but this is just all too sweet. I will say it is better on tap than in the bottle; this is true for nearly all of their beers.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 00:49:23 | More by WoodBrew

drewsefs

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is a very solid brew, it seems like the perfect place for a beer to be content. strong biting taste, the aftertaste isn't that powerful, but it leaves a pleasant aroma in your mouth that only made me want another bottle.

When to drink: Honestly, as long as you're in the right state of mind, this is a beer you can enjoy at any time of the year. It's got the right thickness to keep you cool on a summer day or heat you up on a winter night. Suggested meal, burger in a pub with some nice greasy fries.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 04:48:54 | More by drewsefs

yevuta

West Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is a very nice IPA that comes in at a session level ABV of 6 per cent. I need more beers like this that will keep me hoppy happy and out of jail. It poured a reddish orange that connotes a certain kind of IPA taste I like. The nose is very light. Mouthfeel is hust about perfect and may be due to the limestone in their aquifiers. What's wrong with
a pleasant IPA? Nothing.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2012 23:06:53 | More by yevuta

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass on tap.
This beer is clear orange with a nice one finger white head. The smell matches the taste, It is hop dominant; featuring a light citrus and a bit of skunkiness. The beer really only tastes like hops and little malt character gets out. It has a metallic and stinging mouthfeel but is not unpleasant. This is a decent IPA, nothing I have not had before and not something worth revisiting in my opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2012 00:50:24 | More by TwelveOunces

cagocubs

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a copper/clove honey dark gold with an impressive 1.5 finger white head that foams and lingers. The head looks like it should lace where it leaves but neglects to.

S: Hops, grapefruit, some spice, and clove.

T: A nice step back from IPAs that come through too powerful. This has all the tastes, hops, sweet citrus/honey, and earthy clove and florals without the hop annihilation.

M: Crisp with decent carbonation. Good aftertaste, bitter, but not overly bitter.

O: A good IPA if you are looking for the IPA taste without having to fully commit your mind to the bitterness of the taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 04:00:42 | More by cagocubs

Treebs

Illinois

2.6/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz. bottle served in a Great Lakes shaker pint . Bottled January of 2012. Thanks to mattboyer182 for the the extra

A: Pour a clear amber color with a thick and frothy one finger height of foam forming on the pour. It recedes slowly to a thin cap and thick collar. Thick rings of lace are left down the glass.

S: Bread malts with a light earthy dirt hop smell. It's really hard to pick it out and it really doesn't smell like much. They are all very light.

T: Odd hop flavor. Almost like they are slightly spoiled. The hop profile is just weird. The malts are bready and pale in nature and dominate the finish. As the beer goes on it gets more palatable.

M: Lightly bodied and has a medium carbonation. Luckily the finish is near flavorless and it's easier to swallow.

O: The beer looked great, but in the end I just didn't like the hop profile and the flavors were just light. I love the lambics by Upland, but I've been underwhelmed by there other offerings.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 00:48:23 | More by Treebs

Efeswasmy1st

3.93/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle, aroma is citrus, floral, bubblegum.

Appearance is a cloudy golden color with minimal white foam head.
Taste is lightly bitter, light body, soft carbonation, and abrupt finish. Became a little skunky as it warmed up.
Pleasant, easy, IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 00:26:53 | More by Efeswasmy1st

Auracom

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On-tap at the brewpub in Bloomington. 16 oz. pour into a pint glass on February 18th, 2012.

A - Clear, dark golden-orange coloring. Super enticing, white, creamy, one-finger head. Okay retention but great lacing.

S - Light hops, touch of honey, flora, and malt grains. Predominant caramel aroma livens up as this glass warms up a bit.

T - Hop resin primarily at the front. Honey roasted almonds blends as part of a strong malt backing. Fresh baked bread, and light butter toffee.

M - Light-medium body, medium carbonation, standard finish. Semi-sweet aftertaste.

D - Decent, unique malt bill, but not memorable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2012 16:40:01 | More by Auracom

Sean9689

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Indy Tasting Room.

A - Pours orange in color, white head, spotty lace, wisps.

S - Citrus, grapefruit, light malts, some floral notes. A little too much sweetness for an IPA, IMO. There needs to be a larger dose of hops to balance this one out a bit more.

T - Citrus, pine, light tropical hops/malty sweetness. Not quite as sweet as the nose, but still, I would prefer more hoppy notes.

M - Light, good carbonation, oily finish.

O - An average IPA, but nothing crazy and didn't blow me out of the water. I would have this one again, but it probably won't be the first thing I order at Upland.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2012 18:04:23 | More by Sean9689

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.53/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by plank10. Thanks Nick.

The beer is light orange with a small head that leaves sparse lacing on the snifter. The aroma is hop forward, with some floral and grassy notes. Decent flavor. Slightly sweet, with a sturdy malt backbone coming in behind. Light bodied with solid carbonation. Simple and easy drinking. A decent IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 03:26:19 | More by Huhzubendah

Cummins9110

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into glass. This beer is crystal clear with nice golden amber color with decent head that fades and then laces the glass. The smell is of floral hops and citrus. The combination gives a fruity taste with a nice malty backbone. Ends in a subtle bitterness. Not an extreme bitterness tho. This is a nice beer and it has that floral hop taste that I always look for in a beer and this one has the best floral taste ive ever had. I dont know why it doesnt have a higher rating. This is a good beer

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2011 06:55:34 | More by Cummins9110