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’ terms, the water used to make two new seasonal beers being served at San Diego International Airport (SAN) comes from water that drips from the bottom of air conditioning units attached to jet bridges; this water would otherwise land on the ground and go to waste.
Water conservation is an ongoing concern in Southern California. So, as part of the airport’s water stewardship program, SAN collects jet bridge air conditioner condensate in big barrels, purifies the drippings using reverse osmosis and ozone disinfection, and sends some of the remaining water off to San Diego’s East Village Brewing Company for use in special beers.
The rest of the reclaimed water is also put to good use for tasks such as cleaning airport equipment and vehicles; it's also used in the cooling towers that help regulate the air temperature inside the passenger terminals.
But let’s get back to beer.
“The condensate water is superbly pure and ideal for brewing,” Aaron Justus, owner and brewer at the East Village Brewing Company, says. “Plus, it’s no secret that California is in the midst of a long-term drought, so water reclamation is a creative way to reduce our water footprint here in San Diego.”
With the condensate water from SAN, Justus and his team have brewed two special travel-themed beers.
Related: 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, both beers are on tap in Terminal 2 at both Phil’s BBQ and Stone Brewing — which also has a few other specialty drafts on the menu.
Each restaurant received one keg each of Hoppy Travel IPA and Preflight Pilsner. While the airport hopes the collaboration with East Village Brewing Company will continue, the special reclaimed water beers are not going to be heavily promoted. They are available “while supplies last,” so travelers who are in the know can order them when passing through SAN.
This isn’t the first time SAN has served up beer brewed with reclaimed jet bridge air conditioner drippings. In 2019, the airport partnered with local brewery Ballast Point and an industrial water purification company to create a small batch of a special beer called SAN Test Pilot. It was a big hit and sold out quickly.
Here’s a video that explains how air-conditioning drippings at the airport become great-tasting, good-for-the-planet beer.
Other airports where you can grab great brews
Many airports around the country are now home to brewpubs and restaurants that make a point of serving locally crafted beers.
For instance, Tampa International Airport (TPA) is home to Cigar City Brewing’s Brewpub & Taproom while Portland International Airport (PDX) features Deschutes Brewery Public House and the Juliett bar. Juliett honors women in aviation with specialty cocktails and beers named for notable female aviators and their organizations. Stone Arch, at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), works with the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild to keep the can, bottles and taps filled with Minnesota-brewed beers.
Many people are going to spend time in airports this holiday season. So, let us know your favorite airport brewpub and share your suggestions on what to order.
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.