In Carlsbad, we always brew our best

San Diego County is known as a leader in craft brewing, and we are proud to be part of that story. Carlsbad is home to close to a dozen brewing operations with barrels of awards between them. In honor of our summer season, we wanted to tip our glasses to breweries that are pouring themselves into new trends, technologies and sustainability projects. There’s nothing like pairing beer with a side of innovation.   

First up, is Culver Beer Co. Started in 2016 by Mike Stevenson and Ben Fairweather, their tasting room has been referred to as Carlsbad’s version of Cheers where everyone knows your name. With unmistakable artwork on the walls and a delicatessen in their tasting room, this microbrewery is a local favorite; it also happens to be paving the way for the brewers of tomorrow. When not brewing beer for Culver, Stevenson is advancing the industry as an instructor in Mira Costa College’s BrewTech program, one of only two California programs certified by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas. It’s also the only craft beer program with an on-site brewery, as well as an 80-hour internship requirement.  

A quick drive from Culver, Burgeon Beer is also changing the future of how beer is brewed. It is the first brewery to earn a certification from Ocean+Positive by taking steps to sequester its previously emitted carbon dioxide (thanks to its partnership with SeaTrees), and then taking steps to reduce all carbon emissions from here on in. According to the company, this “is guided by [their] values and the San Diego coastal lifestyle, [Burgeon] is eager to restore the ocean’s blue-carbon ecosystem and supercharge its ability to reverse climate change.” Burgeon claims to have planted 2,500 square feet of kelp forest along the coast of Southern California, and these marine plants are “known to be up to 10 times more powerful than the rainforest at pulling carbon out of the air…” With projects like this, Burgeon seems to be embodying its name, which means to grow and flourish, in more ways than one. 

With a similar sustainability ethos, Pure Project was initially founded in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, and while the operation ended up moving to San Diego from the jungles of Costa Rica, its commitment to “pure, unique and local ingredients” stayed the same. This is evidenced in several ways, including how they source their ingredients. Pure Project partnered with Admiral Maltings of Alameda, CA to source craft grains that are “dry farmed, no-till and organic varietals,” a much different tact than commercially harvested grains. They’ve also forged relationships with biodynamic farmers and beekeepers to improve the regenerative effects of each element of their supply chain. Seemingly simple changes like using industrial rubber bands instead of plastic packaging show that their dedication to sustainability runs deep, and that even small details are not overlooked. 

A lot of care goes into every “cheers” of beers brewed in Carlsbad, and we think that our brewery scene is a great example of a life in action. These brew houses show that sustainable supply chains, planet-forward operations and innovation education are not just platitudes for posters, they are purposefully integrated into their way of doing business. If you’d like to raise a glass to that or join the talent force of Carlsbad, take our Relocation Quiz to see if our vibe aligns with yours.