A Hoosier beer. Something brewed in the good old state of Indiana. I may not support our local sports teams, region politics, or even care about open wheel racing, but I love state brewed beer.
About Upland Brewing Company
Upland is Indiana’s largest microbrewery. Established in 1997 Upland Brewing Company set out to make great beer and have since grown to be extremely popular and have spread the availability of their brews to every county in Indiana. Upland is located in Bloomington Indiana, and although we like their beer we have to say we are disappointed in their choice of location. Boiler Up!
About Dragonfly IPA
Dragon Fly is an India Pale Ale which means it brings the hops. The beer contains 6.8% ABV so it will do it’s job if you are looking for more than just flavor. Dragonfly is rated at 40 IBUs.
My Review
Dragonfly is one of my regular go to beers when I am out to eat or at the liquor store. I think this beer has a unique blend of flavors that really treat my palate right. So expect this review to be rather one sided.
There really isn’t much about this beer I don’t like. When you pour it you get a great head that slowing breaks down into a thin foam ring that stays on top of the beer the entire time you are drinking it. The color of the beer is a really burnt orange/light brown color and has no cloudiness whatsoever.
Put your nose it the glass and you get a really nice aroma. The beer has a pine smell from the hops and then it is followed up by of hint of something sweet.
When you take your first sip of the beer you are going to notice right away big citrus flavors, lemon and orange like flavors. After that the bitterness of the hops will basically take over your tongue, but don’t be grossed out by it. That sweet component I mentioned on the nose is in my estimate a caramel malt the really produces a vanilla like flavor that kind of soothes the tongue from those hops as you swallow the beer down.
I think this is a complex beer with great flavors that compliment each other well. You may find that this beer is a little to much for you if you aren’t into hops, but the sweetness that the finish leaves will really make this beer drinkable to more that just IPA fans.
Have you had Dragonfly? Tell me what you thought of it in the comments below. And if you like this post make sure you subscribe to get all of our articles sent directly to your email.
I have not had this beer yet, but anything with the word Dragon in it has to be good.
I have tried this beer once and I absolutely loved it. I drink mostly domestic beers, I’m partial to any Budweiser variety, because when I drink beer it tends to be in large quantities. This one however is not that kind of beer, at least not for me. This is a great beer to drink when you want to relax and just enjoy the flavor of a really good beer, not when you plan on pounding a 12 pack…like I will be doing later on tonight.
And pound a 12 pack each we did. Not to bad for a Tuesday night.
I like this beer, but I prefer their Wheat Ale. It’s probably my favorite beer of all time.
Atom,
I haven’t tried the wheat yet, but had the barleywine last night. The review of that will be coming.
Adam
Adam,
Make sure when you try the Wheat Ale, that you pour most into a glass, leave about an inch in the bottom and swirl it around to get the “goodness” into the beer, then pour the rest into the glass.
I wish upland would put that on their labels. At one point I think it was then then re-designed.
It’s key though, adds flavor and everyone looks at you funny!
AG
Being looked at funny is my style. Does it just give it that extra bit of head?
I can see how the swirl can open up the carbonation and release some extra scent, but does it do a lot for taste?
Adam,
Not so much an extra bit of head, it primarily (for me) adds that extra bit of flavor.
To be honest, I am not sure what it is in the bottom, I call em’ my “wheaties”
AG
I haven’t had the pleasure of having this one in a while but it definitely is good! I still have yet to like the taste of beer while eating but soon as the food is down bring on the beer.
You talked me into this one.
Ross, Do it. Come on everybody else is.
I also tried this beer this weekend and found it too to be a very good beer. Thank you.