Komodo Dragon Fly Black IPA - Upland Brewing Company

HosP

Indiana

4.18/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got a locals twelve pack with 2 of these in it for a snowed in night.

A- Pours dark in color with 1/4" tan head.

S- Hop aroma up front. Piney hops mostly come through. Some roasted malt notes peek through at the end.

T- Lots of flavor, much more than I thought from the nose. Piney, with some citrus hop flavor up front and throughout. Some nice malt flavors come in at the end. The hops give a big bitterness flavor to it that stays with you.

M- Medium body. Moderate carbonation. A little dry with bitterness.

D- Very easy drink. Drank both bottles during the night. Good flavors, enough that I'd pick up a 6 pack of this sometime!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2011 17:03:29 | More by HosP

mdfb79

New York

3.58/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From 01/21/11 notes. Brought to a small tasting by jslot38; thanks Justin.

a - Pours a dark brown color with one inch of tan head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of chocolate, roasted malts, and vanilla.

t - Tastes of chocolate, roasted malts, coffee, and vanilla.

m - Medium body and low carbonation.

d - Good, but did not seem like a black IPA at all; seemed mroe like a stout/porter. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 04:40:58 | More by mdfb79

Urbancaver

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a pitch black with a bit of dark brown head. Looks very very dark and pretty. Smells very hoppy and a bit of roasted malt. Tastes a bit bitter. Lots of hops on the tongue with some solid roasted malt backbone. A bit too bitter for my taste but very solid mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 01:30:20 | More by Urbancaver

kbutler1

Minnesota

3.7/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft. At Upland Tap Room in Bloomington, IN. Poured into a pint glass a dark cola like brown color with a tan head. Aroma is not as hoppy I would have thought but roast and licorice. Medium moutfeel. Subtle roast flavors with a fairly strong hoppy bitter bite at the end. Nice lace. Overall, would have liked to have more of a hop presence but drinks easy.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2010 23:50:52 | More by kbutler1

burnheartsMKE

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My first taste via bottle extremely disappointed me. I guess I was expecting something more along the lines of Stone - Sublimely Self-Righteous or Grand Tetons - Trout Hop of which it is neither.

My second taste begged for a reexamination and I was somewhat pleased. The light-hopped nose and rich roasted-malt flavor really foreshadowed the chilly midwest winter.

My third taste sealed the deal. On draft at the Upland brewpub with good friends (on a road trip) over a dinner of bison filet. As the rain fell outside (with a blizzard on the radar), my weekend dedicated to drinking good beer, I could not have been happier.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2010 00:40:32 | More by burnheartsMKE

Brent

Kentucky

3.05/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

One of those beers where you give it the benefit of the doubt half-way through the glass, but, at some point, you look at it and admit "I'm not diggin' it." Nice dark color. Moderate roasted malt notes with some sort of odd, smokey flavor, almost like a smoke ale. A touch of infection or a brewing aspect - I could not make it out.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 21:37:38 | More by Brent

cadaugherty

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap 12/18 while picking up the new batch of Lambics-

Appearance- Dark black with a minimal head and some lacing.

Aroma- Mainly roasted malt. Some pine needles, pretty mild.

Taste- Again the roasted malt comes through. The piney hops do come through in the taste a bit. Not too bitter on the finish.

Mouth/Drink- Thin but easy to drink.

Honestly I was not super impressed. Looking at some of the other reviews I'm not sure if I got a bad pour at the end of a keg or if my taste buds were out of whack but I did not get any citrus off this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2010 18:20:31 | More by cadaugherty

readbaron

Illinois

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a transparent plach with a bit of head and nice lacing. When held to the light a hint of ruby red shows up.

Smells rich - a combination of piney hops, fruit, chocolate, and caramel maltyness.

Tastes like it smells - anoint of wintergreen/pine makes it highly refreshing, and blends well with the fruit and malt.

Mouthfeel is creamy and medium/heavy bodied, yet still crisp.

Definitely drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2010 18:42:45 | More by readbaron

SuperNova777

Indiana

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

A:Pours a non transparent black with a solid tan colored head that falls fairly slowly,
nice lacing is left hanging around on the glass

S:Nose picks up a nice helping of roasted malts and toffee mixed in there as well,
deeper in some chocolate come thru. Hops are not really present which is a little
disappointing.

T:Initially on the front of the palate you get a dose of the roasted malts which
continues on into the middle, on the backend the hops finally kicked in but just
for a second before the bittersweet chocolate covers the palate that lingers on.

M:Felt the body might be able to use a little more umphh to it while losing some
carbonation, thick coating also covers the palate that hangs around throughout
the whole drink.

D:Pretty much this was a easy going and fairly tasty drink, I would probably throw
a little more hop bite on it but other than that it was enjoyable. Keep doing it
Upland you're getting there.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2010 16:42:31 | More by SuperNova777

JamesS

Indiana

4.83/5  rDev +29.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured a great deep brown/black color with great head and nice lacing. Excellent malty aroma with nice hops underneath a good roasted grain scent. Great roasted grains with a wonderfully Earthy hop finish, a very nice mesh of dark malt and hops. Went down great with just the slightest hop roughness.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2010 22:19:41 | More by JamesS

titosupertramp

Tennessee

4.22/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Very dark with mocha head..nice sticky lacing.

S: Green, piney hops..roasted malts.

T: Love the taste. Piney, citrusy hops mixed with roasted coffee flavor. Excellent balance..bitter finish.

M: Good carbonation, sticky..a little dry.

D: Smooth and easy drinking, but with loads of flavor.

Of the three offerings from Upland that I've had, this is easily my favorite. As far as Black IPAs go, this is my second favorite behind Sublimely Self Righteous...which isn't saying much as I've only had 4, but this is still a very tasty beer that I would seek out in the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 02:31:57 | More by titosupertramp

Florida9

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Black in color with a fluffy espresso colored head. One of the blackest Cascadians I've ever seen. Fully opaque with excellent lacing.

S: There's a good dose of roasted malts and coffee with some citrus hops and a bit of cocoa.

T: Light flavor of roasted malts followed by pine and citrusy hops. There is a mild char bitterness with notes of coffee and cocoa.

M: Medium in body with appropriate carbonation. Surprisingly clean tasting considering the heavy malt presence.

D: A very good, very flavorful Black IPA. This beer does not back away from the deep roasted malts in the least, yet it comes together wonderfully.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 03:34:22 | More by Florida9

portia99

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle (bottled in Oct '10) received as a great extra in a trade with jpmclaug. Thanks! Poured into a Bruery tulip.

A - Pours thick and syrupy (looks more impy stout than black IPA) and almost totally opaque pitch black color. A cappucino colored dense finger of foam caps this initially and fades slowly over a minute or two to a some surface islands and an uneven collar around the glass.

S - Nice hoppy aromas up front. Citrus - orange and grapefruit with some hints of pine battle a bit against the dark roasted malts with give a bit of a coffee scent underneath the hops.

T - Roasty and coffee like at the base with some floral and herbal flavors in the mix. Hops are bitter and citrusy. Bitterness from the malts is acrid and heavily charred. Overall gives a burnt character with some alcohol flavor and the flowery hoppiness that I'm finding a little bit weird.

M - Body is light/medium with a hefty carbonation level here. Burnt flavors abound and are present well after the swallow...doesn't give the impression of a balanced bitterness either.

D - Interesting beer. The hops blend in nicely with the powerful roastiness at the base of this beer. However, there are some strange flowery/herbal flavors that mark this one down a bit for me. Roast is a bit too high for me also, would prefer it to be a bit smoother. Black IPA fa.ns should at least check this one out

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 19:55:34 | More by portia99

robwestcott

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from the tap at the brewpub a superdark brown to black to a generic pint glass with a nice 2 finger long lasting foamy mocha head leaving a great deal of lace to the rim of the glass.

not at all subtle aroma of dark roasted malts and espresso.

super roasted malts, dark black espresso, mildly bitter to the back of the tongue - much less bitter than I had expected.

mildly carbonated, light bodied, mildly bitter.

drinkable - yes.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2010 23:07:32 | More by robwestcott

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Acquired from tburkhart, courtesy of the Under 100 IV BIF so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a large brown head that fades very slowly and leaves a thick but spotty lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains roasted malts, coffee, chocolate and a decent amount of hops.

T: The taste starts out with a hearty roasted malt character and flavors of black coffee and dark chocolate. Then a complementary hops bitterness comes in but it's a bit mild for the style. There's a little bit of citrus and spice flavor in the background. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, while there are better beers in the style this one is worth drinking for a while.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 00:46:02 | More by TheManiacalOne

mynie

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled at the Indie tap room. It's neat to see that black IPAs finally have their own category. Even if there's a huge amount of variation within that category, it's neat that we can now begin to standardize them.

So--how do most black IPAs operate? There are those that taste like amped up browns, then there's the ones that are like regular IPAs only with a little bit of dark roasted bitterness or smokiness. And then there's one that are off the chain, they taste like there's something else going on in the malt, aside from barley.

This one falls into the first category. It's very stouty. Smells like an English dry stout that's been brewed with medium-alpha American hops. Tastes like a porter up front--dark barley, unkempt and lively, that's mostly bitter but also a little sour. This gives way to a rush of standard, west coast American hops and the malt appears to almost round itself out, become more biscuity and less bitter, by virtue of it being placed in contrast to the hops.

It's a nice, variegated flavor--not particularly adventurous for the style but still very interesting and very well-brewed.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2010 15:38:33 | More by mynie

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint. Bottled on J '10 notched on the label. No other info.

A - This black IPA pours very dark brown, almost black, but totally clear in the stream. In the glass however, one would easily mistake this for a robust stout! Completely black, so much so no light shines through, with a dense, rich, mocha head. The small finger stature is made up for by the fantastic retention and thick coating of velvety lace.

S - This is by far one of the finest black IPAs I've ever had the pleasure of smelling. The nose has a fantastic marriage of deeply roasted chocolate malts with mocha and light coffee and hops. Green, herbal hops exude floral and grassy notes without being too "green". The aroma has a fantastic balance!

T - While the nose seems to reach further into the roasted malt/ porter aroma than the IPA, the flavor brings it back. Immediately my tongue is brought to hearty pine and citrus-flavored hops with a longevity to the flavor despite the inevitable change. The roastiness comes in with a vengeance but never overshadows the hops. Totally toasted, almost burnt bread with cocoa and mocha flavor come in on the finish. It doesn't quite land the impression the nose gives but it sure is good!

M - Awesome balance between roasted malty bitterness and hoppy, citrus/ pine resin bitterness finishes with a really dry texture. Komodo is medium-bodied with a light finish from carbonation.

D - Komodo blends the best parts of an IPA with a deep porter seamlessly to deliver a great drinking experience. Delicious, well-balanced, beautiful, and fantastic smelling. What else can you ask for? It's one great beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2010 05:09:50 | More by BeerFMAndy

billab914

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Stone RIS glass. Poured a dark brown color with a half inch mocha colored head. The head faded and clung to the sides of the glass, but left some nice lacing as I drank it.

I'm getting an almost equal amount of the roasted, coffee and chocolate malts and the citrusy hops. They almost seem to cancel each other out though and leave a pretty mild nose overall.

The taste has a lot more of roasted coffee and burnt flavors then anything else. The finish especially showcases the burnt coffee bitterness. I get a little of the hops and citrus coming through but not nearly as much as I would expect in an IPA.

The mouthfeel was pretty fitting with it being medium bodied and moderate carbonation. Drinkability isn't bad, it had some nice stout flavors to it. My main criticism is the marketing this as an IPA. I didn't find it very hoppy at all and instead found it had some pretty big roasty and burnt flavors. I'd say that Night Stalker may be closer to an IPA than this beer. I liked it though.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2010 22:20:41 | More by billab914

lightindarkness

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Surprisingly black, murky, with a light tan head. Deceivingly porter-esque. Smells like burnt hops, somewhere between big juicy pine and citrus mixed with dark toasted bread, and a hint of corn. Taste presents a lot of character like a porter, with dry toasty almost smoky malt juiced up with a huge dose of hops. A little bite in the hops of zest and pine cone, with a snowy flavor washing out with some dark grains that leave the hoppy bitterness suspended over something more bready. I've had some black IPAs, and this one is rather unique and somewhat odd, but I'm finding it increasingly attractive. There's something in there that mixes summer IPA refreshment with the smells and sensations of autumn and winter. Great balance and strength. Not my every day drinker, but one that I could easily find a taste for.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2010 16:34:30 | More by lightindarkness

LordAdmNelson

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with some nice tan head that sticks around for a while and leaves a bit of spotty lacing. Looks really nice for a black IPA, much better than most--it looks basically like a stout. Smell is a somewhat reserved mix of roasted malts, with just a hint of citrusy hops. Flavor is largely stout-y though. This was bottled in January, but it just got to the store, so I was expecting it to retain some hoppy freshness. Not so. This is more of an Irish Dry Stout than anything. Nice chocolate, coffee, and roasted notes, a bit o leafy bitterness, but not much else. Just a slightly hoppier stout, if you ask me. MF is creamy and full, and drinkability is pretty good. I think this one suffers from it not being what it says it is. Definitely a good and enjoyable beer, just not what I was craving when I went for a black IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2010 05:19:04 | More by LordAdmNelson

alleykatking

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle. Review from notes.

A- Pours a black color. Almost looks more like a stout than anything else. One finger tan head comes and goes leaving light soapy lacing streaks on the glass.

S- The roasted malts come through more so than anything else. There are light earthy hops in this too that battle it out for the rest of the aroma in the beer. A little more roasted than I like in a black IPA but still smells good.

T- The flavors in this jump back and forth between IPA and stout. The burnt roasted malts come through first just to be knocked out by a light earthy hop. The chocolate malt notes bump the hops down the rest of the beer until the end. Citrus hops in the finish of the beer. Very interesting for a flavor complex.

M- Medium light mouthfeel. Carbonation was a tad high for me. Roasted malts left on the palate with some ligh hopping thrown in the aftertaste with the malts. Light drying from the alcohol.

D- This was a interesting beer. It couldn't decide what it wanted to be and to be honest I was ok with that. Looking forward to cracking another bottle open to see if this was a off bottle or if that was their intent.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2010 02:58:27 | More by alleykatking

womencantsail

California

3.45/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The pour is a dark brown, almost black, color with a very fluffy tan colored head and some nice sheets of lacing.

S: The primary aroma is roasted malt with some coffee notes and a noticeably acidity.

T: Like the nose, the roasted malt is the primary component along with coffee, an acidic note, and a bitter finish.

M: The body is medium with a lively and tingly carbonation.

D: Not sure if the high carbonation and acidity were due to infection, but this one just seemed a bit "off". For a black IPA, this wasn't all that hoppy.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 08:00:00 | More by womencantsail

cnally

Indiana

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Upland bottles can be hit or miss. Hopefully this is a hit.

Appearance is a deep black, opaque with an initially creamy light brown head that ends up looking soapy.

Pronounced hop aroma and quite piney at that.

The flavor really combines some of the great qualities of an IPA, with its spicy hop and latent bitterness. There is a good dose of a smoky,burnt malt which I have grown accustomed to in a black IPA.

Feel is crisp and balanced. Good.

I think this is refreshing and hearty like a black IPA should be.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 00:47:44 | More by cnally

Lukafer

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Pours black with a pinkys worth of tan head. Looks like a stout.

S- Chocolate, roasted malts and some hops.

T - Coffee, and hops with some alcohol in the end. More stout flavors than IPA flavors, I think it should be in a different category than American IPA. Interesting beer.

M - Not too watery for an IPA, maybe a bit thin for a stout, but it is an IPA?

D - I could probably only drink a couple of these on a sitting, but it's something I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 00:41:01 | More by Lukafer

lbaker

Indiana

2.6/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

(a) Did I buy a stout or an IPA? Was very thrown off by this beer. Definetly not what I thought I was buying. Poors a thick stout-like black with 1 inch of dark foam, thick lacing. Some carbonation and settling occuring. (3.5/5)

(s)Intense, but not the hoppy IPA I was looking for. Chocolate, lavendar? Hint of coffee or espreso. (2.5/5)

(t)I understand this brew has its place...but for these taste buds. Im really having issues appreciating the dry hopped hops over this stout like character. (3/5)

(m) the bitterness of the hops near the end is the only thing i really appreciated about this beer. Thick and heavy on the pallete. Who knows. Maybe its just because the sun is out today but this is a beer to be enjoyed on a stout run in December. Very dull in some points. (2/5)

(d) If your a stout fan, bottoms up. If you get this in an IPA session, throw it at the end because I'm contemplating heading to the drain with this one...and I havent wasted a beer unless its skunked. (2/5)

I love you Upland, but I gotta leave this one out of my lineup

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2010 21:57:10 | More by lbaker