Making Condensate Great!

Attention Beer-Brewers, (and I know a few) here’s an idea that makes condensation an ingredient, not just a puddle on the cellar floor.San Diego’s East Village Brewing Company created two new beers . . . a West Coast IPA and a German pilsner . . . by using the condensation from the air conditioning units at San Diego International Airport.  Now ever since the craft beer scene exploded, creative brewers have been adding fun new ingredients to beer, so your buzz can be delivered with a fruity or chocolaty taste or most anything else you can imagine from cotton candy to Southern Maid donuts.

This idea isn’t about flavoring the brew though, it’s all about utilizing a precious and otherwise wasted commodity.  San Diego’s East Village Brewing Company worked with the San Diego to collect the condensate from all of the airport’s ACs . . . purify it . . . and then used that as the basis for two new beers. There’s a West Coast-style IPA called “Hoppy Travels,” and a German-style pilsner called “Preflight Pils.”  Hoppy Travels has a grapefruit / guava flavor, and Preflight has notes of lemon zest, with a “bready” flavor. The two brews were first announced a few weeks ago, but now they’re available at the airport, and the reviews are pretty good.  Hoppy Travels gets a 3.9 out of 5 on the beer app Untappd, and Preflight gets a 3.8.  (Boing Boing)   Of course, if you order a tall one from your friendly airport lounge, it will still likely run you $15…peanuts exrtra.

Cheers, and happy flying…

(Here’s a video from the airport talking about the beers.)