Theakston Brewery and fermentation pioneer Equinox Kombucha have joined forces to launch a new product, Hopbucha.
It’s an alcohol-free brew that brings together the rich tradition of British brewing with the naturally fermented power of kombucha. The innovation has already won over judges at The Guild of Fine Food, who awarded Hopbucha a Great Taste Award in July.
The functional drink is fermented using Equinox’s unique ‘Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast’ (SCOBY). It offers the gut-friendly live cultures and mouthfeel of authentic kombucha, combined with the refreshment and drinkability of a Theakston ale.
“As the UK’s largest craft brewers of kombucha and one of the category leaders, we have enormous respect for Theakston’s skill and tradition,” said Equinox managing director Andy Braithwaite.
“Yorkshire has a fantastic brewing culture, making world-famous beers like Theakston’s Old Peculier. While we’re one of the longest standing Kombucha brewers in the UK, we’re the new kids on the block compared to Theakston’s nearly 200 years, but there are so many similarities between our techniques and ethos.
“What started as a fun experiment to see how we could collaborate and combine our skills to play with a palate of exciting flavours, has transformed into something special that offers the best of both brewing worlds.”
Richard Bradbury, managing director of Theakston Brewery, added: “We are thrilled to work with Yorkshire kombucha pioneers Equinox Kombucha. This product is a genuine result of our shared passion for fermented flavourful drinks.
“With no- and low-alcohol drinks growing and the market maturing into one where there are products aimed squarely at adults, we felt that Hopbucha offered something different.”
