Hangar 24 Releases Full Story Behind Upcoming Betty IPA
Story by:
MyBeer Buzz
Published: March 5, 2014
| Updated: July 3, 2025
From Hangar 24:
REDLANDS, CA – Hangar 24 Craft Brewery will add the recently announced Betty IPA to their year-round lineup this month, marking the first addition to that lineup since the brewery introduced their Double IPA in 2010. Craft beer fans’ first chance to try Betty IPA will be at a launch celebration held at the Hangar 24 Brewery in Redlands, CA on March 8th. Shortly after the launch at the Brewery, Betty will begin making her way into stores, bars and restaurants across California, Arizona and Nevada. Release events will be held across all territories throughout the rest of March.
Betty IPA is an American India Pale Ale featuring a blend of Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe and Centennial hops. The Brewery spent 8 months perfecting the hop-blend that is the star of Betty, carefully balancing each of the four Pacific Northwestern hops to build an IPA with a huge diversity of aromas and flavors. The hops lend the beer a pleasantly bitter 68 IBUs, and are complemented by a subtle malt sweetness and a drinkable 6.5% ABV.
“What stands out about Betty is how many different aromas and flavors you experience, from big, in-your-face tropical fruits and pine, down to subtle notes of berries and stone fruit,” said Founder and Master Brewer Ben Cook.
The first iteration of the beer was initially released at the Brewery’s AirFest & Fifth Anniversary Celebration in May of 2013, as an “Experimental IPA.” Six different batches were then featured in the Brewery’s Tasting Room, where guests gave their feedback as the final recipe developed. Employees were given six-packs to take home throughout the process, and filled out flavor profile sheets to help fine tune the flavors and aroma to craft precisely the beer the brewers wanted.
In choosing the name Betty IPA, Hangar 24 hopes to shine a spotlight on a major piece of 1940s American culture and aviation history. After months of brainstorming from employees across all company lines at Hangar 24, the name came to Cook after he flew to Chino, CA to visit the Planes of Fame Air Museum in search of inspiration. He left the museum with new ideas, but it wasn’t until he stopped for a bite to eat at Flo’s Airport Café across the street that the name stared him in the face- quite literally.
Betty Grable’s iconic 1943 poster hung on the wall of Flo’s, amid countless other pieces of aviation memorabilia. The photograph had made Grable the most popular pin-up amongst the US soldiers stationed abroad during World War 2, troops who were desperate for images of home amidst uncertain circumstances and infrequent mail. These pin-ups took on a life of their own, becoming a popular subject of nose-art for American pilots, and the original photograph went on to be included in Life Magazine’s 2003 “100 Photographs that Changed the World.” Cook knew he’d found the story he wanted his beer to tell.
“We have so many ideals that we want our brand to represent, and they were all bouncing around in our heads throughout the naming process.” Cook explained. “I’m sitting there looking at this poster, and I realize that by putting a pin-up on their plane these pilots were visualizing those exact same ideals over 70 years ago, when they mattered so much to so many people.”
In an additional effort to honor the fighting men and women who continue to make that sacrifice, the Brewery has pledged to donate $1 from each Betty IPA pint, growler, 6-pack and t-shirt sold during the beer’s March 8th release celebration to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Founded in 2004, IAVA’s mission is to provide support for 2.6 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan through fostering an empowered generation of veterans who provide sustainable leadership for our country and their local communities. The organization currently has over 300,000 members and supporters nation-wide.
The full details of the Hangar 24 Betty IPA Launch Celebration can be found on the event Facebook page.
Following the Brewery launch event, Betty IPA will rapidly begin hitting distribution in 12oz 6-packs, 22oz bombers and on draught. Craft beer fans in California, Nevada and Arizona can look out for Betty’s arrival in their distribution area using the Brewery’s Beerfinder, and stay informed about additional launch events in their area via the Brewery’s Facebook page, Twitterand Instagram.
About Betty IPA: TROPICAL, LUSCIOUS AND DIVERSE. Inspired by the dreams of home painted on the noses of U.S. planes during WWII, our Betty is an American IPA packing Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe and Centennial hops. Juicy aromas match the brightness of hop-forward flavors: tropical fruit, citrus zest, berries, stone fruit and pine soar over a base of pleasant bitterness.
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