SAN DIEGO — A special collaboration in San Diego is producing beer that is delicious and helps save water.

What You Need To Know

  • East Village Brewing Co. created an IPA and a honey ale using recycled water from San Diego International Airport

  • The water used in the beers is condensate that drips from the bottom of air conditioning units attached to jet bridges at the airport

  • Using reclaimed water creatively will help all of San Diego reduce their water footprint and reliance on imported water

  • The beers are being sold at the East Village Brewing Co. and at concessions in Terminal 2 at San Diego International Airport

Aaron Justus, owner of East Village Brewing Co., has created an IPA and a honey ale using recycled water from San Diego International Airport.

"This one's called Hoppy Travels. We're all about puns here," Justus said. "So Hoppy Travels and the honey ale is Cruising Ale-titude."

The water used in the beers is condensate that drips from the bottom of air conditioning units attached to jet bridges at the airport.

Justus said using reclaimed water creatively will help all of San Diego reduce their water footprint and reliance on imported water.

"The idea that you can consume something that has reclaimed water in it. The condensation water is no different than rainwater," he said. "So as a brewer, that's a dream. You're brewing with dream water."

John Wammes is also part of the collaboration. He works at Water Works, which captures and purifies the condensate using ozone disinfection before transporting it to East Village Brewing.

"It becomes a really super pure water to be able to brew with," Wammes said. "Great for this style of beer."

The craft beers are also being sold at concessions in Terminal 2 at San Diego International Airport. 

Wammes said some of the water is also being used to clean equipment and vehicles at the airport, proving there's a world of opportunity for this kind of innovation.

"It makes sense that if you're using an air conditioner and it's creating condensate from the air that that water is actually really good," Wammes said. "In fact, it's premium water for making beer or for applications where you want really, really clean water. It's a very important message to share with others because the only way we can really help climate change and help sustainability is if we all work together."

Justus said making beer with green ingredients is at the heart of his brewing beliefs. He hopes his beer will inspire craft beverage lovers to explore more ways they can all help make the world better.

"This is the future of water in San Diego," he said. "The only way we can give water to over 3 million people here in this county is to up the water reclamation."

The beers are being sold at the East Village Brewing Co. and at concessions in Terminal 2 at San Diego International Airport. This is an ongoing collaboration, and they're trying to release new beers every couple of months.