Some collaborations start with a handshake. This one started with a pint.
When Upland Brewing Co. and The Mill teamed up for Innovation Week, the goal wasn’t just to make a beer — it was to bottle the spirit of Bloomington itself: bold, creative, and a little unexpected.
A Beer Built for the Curious
Inside Upland’s production facility, the scent of hops and malt hangs thick in the air. That’s where the two teams first started planning out what a beer for Innovation Week could taste like.
The mission, Brian Hettmansperger explained, was to brew something experimental yet approachable — “a beer that invited people in rather than pushing them out.”
The result? Out of Office, a Pineapple Hazy IPA that tastes like Bloomington in a glass: unafraid to mix things up, grounded in craft, and best enjoyed in community.
And for those skipping alcohol, Upland brewed a pineapple hop water that’s sparkling, refreshing, and crafted with the same inventive spirit.
Where Ideas and Ales Meet
This wasn’t Upland’s first creative partnership. They’ve turned local pumpkins into pumpkin beer for Fowler’s Pumpkin Patch and shared spent fruit with Blue Boy Chocolate to make beer-infused truffles.
“Basically, if you come to me with chocolate, I’ll probably say yes,” Hettmansperger laughed.
That open-door philosophy has long defined Upland’s relationship with its hometown. Whether it’s IU Athletics or neighborhood nonprofits, the brewery sees beer as a catalyst for connection — not a product, but a conversation starter.
Brewing Local, Thinking Big
Bloomington’s startup scene has grown up across the street from Upland’s taps, but both share the same foundation: community first, creativity always.
“People here (Bloomington) actually care about where things come from,” Hettmansperger said. “They value local — not just because it’s local, but because it means someone you know put their hands and heart into it.”
You can visit Bloomington's Upland Pub, at 350 W 11th St, Bloomington, IN 47404 to try our hop water and beer while supplies last.
When Hettmansperger finally took a sip of his beer, he smiled. “I hope people taste the work in it,” he said. “Every step — from the grain to the glass — someone cared. That’s what makes it good.”
Cheers to that.
