Friends of Balboa Park celebrated National Arbor Day on Friday with a new local beer — Urban Arbor IPA — and the planting of 27 trees in a grove across Park Boulevard from the San Diego Zoo.
In honor of the day, Karl Strauss and Automatic Brewing partnered with custom wood shop San Diego Urban Timber to brew the new beer using juniper from timber sourced at the park.
The unique IPA is being sold at all Karl Strauss locations, as well as Blind Lady Ale House, Tiger! Tiger! and Panama 66 in the park. Proceeds from each pint sold will benefit Friends of Balboa Park.
“Friends is honored to have such strong support from our donors and corporate partners that enables us to continue making meaningful enhancements to the park,” said Executive Director John Bolthouse. “Balboa Park is already the jewel of San Diego, so being able to add more trees to the lush landscape is a great gift.”
Six different varietals suitable for San Diego’s semi-arid climate were planted, including peppermint willow, camphor, naked coral, moreton bay fig, Hong Kong orchid and fern pine.
Friends of Balboa Park, a strategic partner of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation department, has been celebrating Arbor Day at the park since 2006,