Hangar 24 Craft Brewing - Orange Wheat

Hangar 24’s popular Orange Wheat pours a golden straw color with plenty of haze, as is typical for wheat ales, topped by a head of bright white foam. Wheat beers are often served with a wedge of lemon or orange, as the bright citrus note tends to work well with the tangy character of the wheat. Hangar 24 has embraced this concept, employing real, whole, locally-sourced oranges which are delivered to the brewery right after picking. Those oranges are noticeable in the aroma, adding a juicy and somewhat spicy, earthy, floral character atop a well-developed undercurrent of wheat. On the palate, look for a nice balance between a robust pale breadiness at the core of this brew and that zesty orange contribution which makes for a pleasant addition that doesn’t bash you over the head. Hop bitterness is mild and herbal, merging with a light citrus bite to balance the core wheaty maltiness quite well. For pairing options, we’re thinking fish or shellfish dishes with a spritz of citrus, moderately spiced orange peel chicken, or goat cheese with fruit. 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.