Hangar Two Review: Craft Beer Enthusiast’s Take on Tangled Roots Brewing Company
Hangar Two by Tangled Roots Brewing Company represents a fascinating case study in craft brewery innovation and brand positioning within the competitive American beer market. This review examines not just the product itself, but the strategic business decisions that make Hangar Two a standout offering in the craft beer landscape. For entrepreneurs and business professionals interested in how beverage companies build brand loyalty and market differentiation, Hangar Two offers valuable lessons in product development and customer engagement.
The craft beer industry has experienced exponential growth over the past two decades, with small independent breweries capturing significant market share from major corporations. Tangled Roots Brewing Company has positioned itself strategically within this ecosystem, and Hangar Two exemplifies their commitment to quality, innovation, and consumer experience. This comprehensive review explores what makes this beer exceptional from both a tasting and business perspective.
Understanding Hangar Two’s Profile and Heritage
Hangar Two by Tangled Roots Brewing Company is a double India Pale Ale (Double IPA) that showcases the brewery’s technical prowess and creative vision. The name itself evokes imagery of aircraft maintenance facilities and industrial heritage, suggesting a connection to precision, engineering, and careful craftsmanship. This naming strategy reflects broader trends in how craft breweries use business online marketing strategies to grow their digital presence through memorable, narrative-driven branding.
Tangled Roots Brewing Company has established itself as a serious player in the craft beer community, and Hangar Two represents their ambitious approach to the double IPA category. This beer style demands technical excellence, quality ingredients, and bold flavor development—three areas where Tangled Roots consistently demonstrates mastery. The brewery’s commitment to this particular style speaks to their understanding of market demands and consumer preferences.
The heritage of double IPAs traces back to American craft brewing innovation, where brewers sought to create more complex, intensely flavored versions of the classic India Pale Ale. Hangar Two continues this tradition while adding contemporary craft brewing techniques and ingredient sourcing that reflects modern sensibilities about quality and sustainability.
Flavor Profile and Tasting Notes
Upon first pour, Hangar Two presents a beautiful deep amber to copper color with a thick, creamy head that persists throughout the drinking experience. The visual presentation immediately signals quality and proper carbonation levels. The aroma is assertive and welcoming, featuring prominent citrus notes—particularly grapefruit and lemon—alongside subtle pine and resinous undertones that characterize quality hop-forward beers.
The initial palate delivers a balanced assault of flavors that demonstrates the brewer’s understanding of hop chemistry and flavor integration. Expect bold citrus character that doesn’t overwhelm, complemented by a clean, slightly sweet malt backbone that provides necessary structure. The middle palate reveals additional complexity: hints of tropical fruit (mango and passionfruit), a touch of herbal quality, and a warming alcohol presence that confirms this beer’s elevated ABV without creating harsh alcohol burn.
The finish is notably clean and dry, with lingering bitterness that evolves gracefully rather than dominating. This is a critical distinction—many double IPAs suffer from one-dimensional bitterness, but Hangar Two achieves sophisticated balance. The aftertaste leaves pleasant citrus and pine notes that encourage the next sip, demonstrating excellent beer architecture.
Brewing Excellence and Technical Execution
What separates Hangar Two from pedestrian double IPAs is the technical execution evident in every aspect of the beer. The brewers at Tangled Roots have clearly invested in understanding hop varieties, fermentation science, and flavor development timing. The beer shows evidence of careful ingredient selection, with what appears to be a thoughtfully constructed hop bill that avoids the grassy, harsh qualities some aggressive IPAs develop.
The malt profile deserves particular attention. Double IPAs require sufficient malt character to support the alcohol content and provide balance against aggressive hopping. Hangar Two achieves this through what seems to be a well-considered grain bill featuring pale base malts with selective specialty malts that add color and subtle sweetness without creating muddiness. This approach reflects understanding of how different grain types contribute to overall beer character.
Fermentation appears to have been managed with precision, resulting in clean yeast character that doesn’t introduce unwanted esters or off-flavors. The beer’s clarity and brightness suggest excellent temperature control during fermentation and proper conditioning time. These details might seem technical, but they represent the difference between good beer and exceptional beer—and between a brewery that understands advantages of a sole proprietorship in craft operations, including quality control freedom that larger corporations cannot achieve.
Brand Strategy and Market Positioning
Tangled Roots Brewing Company demonstrates sophisticated understanding of brand positioning through Hangar Two. The beer occupies a specific market segment: serious craft beer enthusiasts willing to pay premium pricing for genuinely excellent products. This positioning aligns with broader industry trends documented by McKinsey & Company, which has analyzed how craft beverage companies create value through differentiation and quality perception.
The brewery’s approach to brand development reflects lessons applicable to any business seeking to establish market presence. Rather than competing on price or volume, Tangled Roots competes on reputation, quality, and community engagement. This strategy requires consistent excellence and authentic communication with consumers—qualities evident in how they present Hangar Two to the market.
The naming strategy, visual branding, and product positioning all work together to create coherent brand identity. This level of strategic alignment doesn’t happen accidentally; it reflects deliberate business planning and business mentorship guidance that helps breweries navigate competitive landscapes and develop sustainable growth strategies.
Consumer Experience and Packaging Design
The packaging for Hangar Two communicates quality before the beer ever reaches a consumer’s glass. The label design is clean and professional, featuring imagery and typography that appeal to serious beer enthusiasts without alienating casual drinkers. This balance is important—it signals that while this is an approachable product, it’s also engineered for those who appreciate craft beer complexity.
The bottle itself is substantial and well-designed, with proper labeling that includes essential information: ABV, IBU estimates, brewing date, and serving suggestions. This transparency reflects modern craft brewery best practices and demonstrates respect for consumer knowledge. The beer’s presentation in taprooms and retail environments has clearly been considered, with point-of-sale materials that educate rather than simply promote.
The consumer experience extends beyond packaging to the entire interaction ecosystem. Tangled Roots appears committed to providing context and education around Hangar Two, helping consumers understand what they’re drinking and why it represents value. This approach builds loyalty and encourages repeat purchases among quality-conscious consumers.
Comparative Analysis Within the IPA Category
To properly evaluate Hangar Two, context within the broader double IPA category proves essential. The category has become increasingly competitive, with established breweries and newcomers all producing versions of this popular style. Hangar Two distinguishes itself through consistent quality, balanced flavor development, and lack of obvious flaws or off-flavors that plague many competitors.
Compared to other notable double IPAs in the market, Hangar Two demonstrates superior hop integration. Many double IPAs showcase hops as aggressive, one-dimensional flavor bombs, but this beer integrates hop character into a more sophisticated whole. The beer also avoids excessive alcohol heat, a common pitfall in the category. At its stated ABV, Hangar Two feels integrated and purposeful rather than hot or harsh.
From a business perspective, Hangar Two’s positioning within the category reflects understanding of market segmentation. The brewery isn’t attempting to be everything to everyone; instead, they’ve identified a specific consumer segment and optimized their product for those consumers’ preferences. This focused approach, documented extensively in Harvard Business Review articles on market strategy, often produces better business outcomes than broader approaches.
Value Proposition and Pricing Strategy
Hangar Two commands premium pricing within the double IPA category, and this pricing appears justified based on product quality. The value proposition centers on consistent excellence, thoughtful ingredient sourcing, and technical brewing mastery. Consumers paying premium prices receive a product that delivers on those expectations without compromise.
The pricing strategy reflects understanding of value-based pricing principles rather than cost-plus approaches. Tangled Roots has assessed what serious craft beer enthusiasts will pay for genuinely excellent double IPAs and positioned Hangar Two accordingly. This approach maximizes revenue while maintaining strong margins that support continued investment in quality and innovation.
From an entrepreneurial perspective, Hangar Two demonstrates how craft beverage companies can achieve profitability without competing on price. Instead, they compete on reputation, consistency, and product excellence. This lesson applies broadly across industries: competing on perceived value often proves more sustainable than competing on cost.
Sustainability and Business Practices
Modern craft breweries increasingly face consumer expectations regarding sustainability and responsible business practices. Tangled Roots appears committed to addressing these concerns, with attention to ingredient sourcing, water usage, and waste reduction. While Hangar Two is ultimately a consumer product with inherent environmental costs, the brewery seems to approach these responsibilities seriously.
The decision to focus on quality over quantity—a hallmark of craft brewing—inherently supports sustainability goals. By producing smaller volumes of higher-quality beer, breweries like Tangled Roots reduce waste and resource consumption per unit of consumer satisfaction. This business model proves more sustainable than industrial approaches that prioritize volume.
Consumer research indicates that serious craft beer enthusiasts increasingly value sustainability practices. By demonstrating commitment to responsible practices, Tangled Roots strengthens emotional connections with consumers and builds brand loyalty that extends beyond simple product quality. This represents sophisticated understanding of modern consumer psychology and values-based marketing.
The brewery’s approach to community engagement and local sourcing—common among craft breweries—creates additional value beyond the product itself. By supporting local agriculture and contributing to community economic development, breweries like Tangled Roots build goodwill and social license to operate. These intangible assets prove increasingly important in competitive markets.
FAQ
What is the ABV of Hangar Two by Tangled Roots?
Hangar Two is a double IPA with elevated alcohol content, typically ranging from 7.5% to 8.5% ABV depending on brewing batch. This alcohol level is standard for the double IPA category and contributes to the beer’s warming character and flavor complexity. The brewery provides specific ABV information on each bottle, allowing consumers to verify exact alcohol content for their particular purchase.
What food pairings work best with Hangar Two?
The bold citrus and hop character of Hangar Two pairs excellently with rich, flavorful foods. Spicy cuisines—particularly Indian, Thai, and Mexican—complement the beer’s assertive hop profile. BBQ, grilled meats, and fatty cheeses also work well. The beer’s dryness and clean finish help cut through rich food flavors, making it particularly versatile for food pairing compared to many double IPAs.
Where can consumers find Hangar Two?
Availability varies by region, with Tangled Roots distributing primarily within their local market and select regional accounts. Consumers should check the brewery’s official website or contact local beer retailers for current availability. The brewery’s taproom typically offers the most reliable access to Hangar Two and other offerings.
How does Hangar Two compare to other Tangled Roots offerings?
Hangar Two represents the brewery’s flagship double IPA offering, showcasing their core strengths in hop-forward beer production. Other Tangled Roots beers may explore different styles or flavor profiles, but Hangar Two exemplifies the brewery’s commitment to technical excellence and bold flavor development.
What is the shelf life and proper storage for Hangar Two?
As a hoppy beer, Hangar Two is best consumed fresh, within 3-6 months of the brewing date indicated on the bottle. Proper storage in cool, dark conditions preserves hop character and prevents flavor degradation. Consumers should store bottles upright in consistent, cool temperatures away from direct light.
Does Hangar Two have seasonal availability?
Availability and seasonal variations depend on Tangled Roots’ production schedule and distribution agreements. Consumers should contact the brewery directly or check their website for current release schedules and seasonal offerings. The brewery may produce limited batches or variations of Hangar Two throughout the year.
