Beers at San Diego Int’l Airport brewed with reclaimed water from jet bridge air conditioners

Technically, it’s beer made with “purified condensate.”

In laypersons’ phrases, the water used to make two new seasonal beers being served at San Diego International Airport (SAN) comes from water that drips from the underside of air-con items hooked up to jet bridges; this water would in any other case land on the bottom and go to waste.

Water conservation is an ongoing concern in Southern California. So, as a part of the airport’s water stewardship program, SAN collects jet bridge air conditioner condensate in large barrels, purifies the drippings utilizing reverse osmosis and ozone disinfection, and sends a few of the remaining water off to San Diego’s East Village Brewing Company to be used in particular beers.

The remainder of the reclaimed water can also be put to good use for duties akin to cleansing airport gear and autos; it is also used within the cooling towers that assist regulate the air temperature contained in the passenger terminals.

However let’s get again to beer.

“The condensate water is beautifully pure and ultimate for brewing,” Aaron Justus, proprietor and brewer on the East Village Brewing Firm, says. “Plus, it’s no secret that California is within the midst of a long-term drought, so water reclamation is a artistic strategy to cut back our water footprint right here in San Diego.”

With the condensate water from SAN, Justus and his crew have brewed two particular travel-themed beers.

Associated: Local Beer Is Trending at an Airport Near You

Hoppy Travels IPA is a West Coast IPA with flavors of grapefruit and guava. PreFlight Pilsner is a German-style beer with bready and lemon zest flavors. As of Dec. 23, each beers are on faucet in Terminal 2 at each Phil’s BBQ and Stone Brewing — which additionally has a couple of different specialty drafts on the menu.

Every restaurant acquired one keg every of Hoppy Journey IPA and Preflight Pilsner. Whereas the airport hopes the collaboration with East Village Brewing Firm will proceed, the particular reclaimed water beers should not going to be closely promoted. They’re obtainable “whereas provides final,” so vacationers who’re within the know can get them organized when passing by SAN.

This isn’t the primary time SAN has served up beer brewed with reclaimed jet bridge air conditioner drippings. In 2019, the airport partnered with native brewery Ballast Level and an industrial water purification firm to create a small batch of a particular beer known as SAN Check Pilot. It was an enormous hit and bought out shortly.

Right here’s a video that explains how air-conditioning drippings on the airport change into great-tasting, good-for-the-planet beer.

For example, Tampa Worldwide Airport (TPA) is house to Cigar City Brewing’s Brewpub & Taproom whereas Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX) options Deschutes Brewery Public House and the Juliett bar. Juliett honors girls in aviation with specialty cocktails and beers named for notable feminine aviators and their organizations. Stone Arch, at Minneapolis-St. Paul Worldwide Airport (MSP), works with the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild to maintain the can, bottles and faucets stuffed with Minnesota-brewed beers.

Many individuals are going to spend time in airports this vacation season. So, tell us your favourite airport brewpub and share your options on what to order.