Hangar 24 Craft Brewing - Fox 3

Fox 3 is featured in Hangar 24’s IPA Mix Pack, and we felt it was a standout offering. This west coast-style IPA pours a bright golden hue with a slight haze, topped by a sizeable cap of sticky foam that leaves plenty of lace as it recedes. Expect a lusciously fruity aroma right away; we picked up citruses evoking candied grapefruit, orange, and lemon, along with tropical notes akin to pineapple and mango. Look for secondary stone fruit and melon notes, along with an herbal pine-like touch, as well. Those hops aren’t shy in the flavor, either, with the citrus coming across quite zesty and resinous, and very firm hop bitterness hitting like an AMRAAM, easily subduing any residual malt sweetness to keep this brew dry from the start to the lingering finish which hangs on with a note of citrus rind. As one expects from a west coast-style IPA, the malts provide plenty of support for the bold hops while leaving those hops to be the starts of the show. For food pairings, we’d go with dishes that meld nicely with the fruity elements of this brew. Grilled citrus marinated steak, spicy lemon chicken, and tacos al pastor should do nicely. 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 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 several core beers along with many limited release, barrel-aged, and experimental brews. For more info on the brewery, their beers, and their taproom locations, visit them at hangar24brewing.com.