Hangar 24 to host throwback “cask beer” night

Brewery favorites are spiked with new flavors and served via twin-engine pumps

REDLANDS – If Hangar 24 Brewery has its way, the term “twin engine” won’t be exclusive to the aviation industry. The first official Hangar 24 Twin Engine Cask Night will take place Friday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m. at the brewery on Sessums Drive, across from Redlands Airport.

“Twin engine” refers to Hangar 24’s side-by-side hand pumps that will be used to serve four specialty beers currently undergoing natural conditioning. The pumps, better known as beer engines, will pull the product directly from casks for serving. These days, carbon dioxide pressure assists the pouring of draft beer from kegs.

Yet, Hangar 24 is not just content to have an event that honors the beer industry’s roots. In each cask will be four specially produced Hangar 24 Beers. One cask will have the brewery’s popular Orange Wheat recipe, infused with fresh pineapple and mango. Alt-Bier will be in another and will be soaked in French Oak. Pale Ale is being dry hopped with Simcoe Hops, adding a floral aroma derived from the hybrid hop developed in the Pacific Northwest. The final cask offering is a Porter that has been combined with fresh vanilla bean and conditioned with brown sugar.

“No matter how advanced the beer-making process gets, there still remains an affinity for the way beer was made and served before current beer industry advancements,” said Ben Cook, Hangar 24 Owner and Brewmaster. “A cask beer night is not unlike an NFL game with throwback jerseys or a classic car show. It’s where yesteryear can be enjoyed in a modern setting and an avenue to constantly create new flavors for our customers to enjoy.”

Unannounced trial offerings of cask beer have been a huge success at the brewery’s tasting room, with the product selling out fast. Cask beer has a short shelf life once it is tapped so these new flavors will only be available on Friday nights.

After primary fermentation, the beer is set aside in casks to condition and at this time natural carbonation develops as the yeast consumes either local honey, brown sugar, maple syrup or some other fermentable. Each cask was racked at a specific date in order to reach its peak of flavor by the time Hangar 24 Twin Engine Cask night begins at 4 p.m.

If cask beer sounds a bit too daunting, the brewery will still have available all of its regular products of Orange Wheat, Pale Ale, Alt-Bier, Helles Lager, IPA and Porter for enjoyment Friday in their original recipes. Hangar 24 will tap a new cask every Friday night and will be changing up the recipe regularly.