Hangar 24 Craft Brewing - Betty IPA

Pouring a medium amber color with a robust cap of foam that drops plenty of lace as it recedes, this is a good looking IPA as it rests in the glass. It’s named in honor of the nose art that American WWII aviators were known for painting on their bombers (Betty Grable being perhaps the most famous pin-up girl of the era). Hangar 24 uses an array of six different hop varieties in this brew, delivering a bold olfactory impact. On the nose, we picked up lots of big, juicy citrus notes conjuring grapefruit and candied orange peel, along with touches of piney-herbal character and hints of tropical fruit, all atop a core of caramelized malt. That malty backbone comes through prominently on the palate, offering a sturdy canvas of caramel and toast to support the bold hop flavors. There’s just a touch of residual malt sweetness that’s easily balanced by a firm, but not stratospheric, hop bitterness that lingers in the finish with a long note of citrus zest. For food pairings, a spicy Szechuan orange or lemon beef dish sounds good to us, along with chicken or fish tacos, citrus-infused Thai or Vietnamese fare, or Buffalo wings. Cheers!

Hangar 24 founder, CEO, and master brewer, Ben Cook, began his beer journey as a homebrewer around 2001 while studying biology at Cal State San Bernardino. His knowledge of biology and access to lab equipment allowed him to get the most out of his homebrew kit. Fast forward a few years, and Ben is a general aviation pilot spending many a summer day out at Redlands Municipal Airport, about 65 miles due east of Los Angeles. After a day of flying, he and his friends and family would relax at hangar number 24, barbecuing, playing music, and enjoying Ben’s most recent homebrews. His signature ingredient: fresh oranges from local groves, which can be found in Hangar 24’s beers to this day. In 2008, he took the leap and founded his brewing company, invoking the theme of aviation throughout its branding.

Currently, Hangar 24 operates three locations including their original brewery and taproom in Redlands as well as a taproom & restaurant in Lake Havasu City, AZ, which opened in 2017, and a new taproom & restaurant in Irvine, CA, which opened in 2020. This author can personally attest to the good beer and grub at the Irvine spot, which features tons of seating on a 2-acre outdoor patio area, live music, and a family-friendly vibe. The brewery produces 10 core beers along with about seven limited release brews and their special Barrel Roll series, featuring beers aged in various wine and whiskey barrels. For more info on the brewery, their beers, and their taproom locations, visit them at hangar24brewing.com.