October 20, 2026 · San Diego, CA San Diego's Pure Project has a new West Coast IPA with a cause behind it. Baja Breach, brewed in partnership with the coastal conservation group WILDCOAST, went on tap on October 15 and is now pouring on draft and in 4-packs to go at all five Pure Project taprooms in San Diego County, plus select retailers. Baja Breach is a 7% ABV West Coast IPA hopped with Simcoe, Citra Cryo, and Simcoe Abstrax. Pure Project describes aromas of strawberry, resinous pine, and lime, with flavors of red currant and raspberry. The can art shows a gray whale breaching out of the water, which is the whole point of the beer. The beer supports WILDCOAST's gray whale conservation work at Laguna San Ignacio in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The lagoon is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaíno and is described as the last undeveloped gray whale nursery on Earth. According to the release, researchers there have counted far fewer mother and calf pairs in recent seasons, down from over 100 to fewer than 20, with only four documented in 2026. "At Pure Project, we believe beer can be a force for good and a way to inspire meaningful change," said Mat Robar, Co-founder of Pure Project. Baja Breach follows Noc-Turtle IPA, an earlier Pure Project and WILDCOAST collaboration that supported sea turtle nest protection. Baja Breach is available now at Pure Project's Miramar Brewery and Taproom (9030 Kenamar Dr. #308, San Diego), Carlsbad Brewery and Taproom (2825 State Street, Carlsbad), Vista Brewery and Taproom (1305 Hot Spring Way, Vista), Balboa Park Taproom (2865 5th Avenue, San Diego), and North Park Taproom (2867 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego). Pure Project's beer locator lists retail spots. A launch party with WILDCOAST is set for Wednesday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m. at The Sea House, 246 N Coast Hwy 101 in Encinitas, with Baja Breach on draft and in cans to go, a DJ, raffles, and WILDCOAST team members on site. Tickets are listed on Pure Project's event page. Brewery pages on Local Brews: https://localbrews.beer/businesses/pure-project, https://localbrews.beer/businesses/pure-project-carlsbad, and https://localbrews.beer/businesses/pure-project-vista If you are in San Diego County, Baja Breach is a fresh West Coast IPA you can grab at any Pure Project taproom right now, and every can puts a little attention on one of the most important whale nurseries in the world. Sources: Pure Project press release via Brewbound (October 15, 2026), Brewer Magazine (October 15, 2026), Pure Project WILDCOAST story page, Specialty IPA page, Baja Breach launch event page, and taproom locations page (purebrewing.org).What's in the can
Brewed for Laguna San Ignacio
Where to find it
Bottom line
