Dragonfly IPA

Upland Brewing Co.
Bloomington, IN

Available: IN, KY, WI

Upkand Brewing Co. has been brewing beer in Bloomington, Indiana since 1998. The name “Upland” comes from the Norman and Crawford Uplands, the term geologists gave to the area because several glaciers advanced and retreated across Indiana, resulting in a region of rugged, heavily wooded hills and hollows.

ABV: 6.5
ABW: 5.07
Color: 10
Bitterness: 40
Original gravity: 1062

Very floral, with orange marmalade, caramel, subtle pine needles and ginger. These notes follow through on the palate, with the caramel and honey-kissed malt to the fore and a steadily building tannic hop bitterness that lingers on the finish. Not as malty as some IPAs I’ve tasted, but that bold hop finish has “IPA” written all over it.
- John Hansell

Do dragonflies sting? I don’t think so, and neither does this slightly hazy, dark copper-colored ale, which is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you prize balance over straight-on hop assault in an IPA. The nose is fragrant and fruity with notes of caramel, peach and sweet citrus, while the body begins with a gentle fruity sweetness before developing a more aggressively hoppy bitterness as the beer coasts from the front to the back of the palate. The finishing touch is a lingering, lemon pith-ish bitter tang. Serve chilled, in dragonfly season, with a side order of salty peanuts.
- Stephen Beaumont

John Hansell
John Hansell writes about beer, wine and spirits. He is the creator, publisher and editor of Malt Advocate, a magazine for the whisky enthusiast.

Stephen Beaumont
Once described as “beerdom's Brillat-Savarin,” Stephen Beaumont is the author of five books and countless articles on beer, spirits, food, travel, and how it all goes together.

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