The Saturday Brew

THE PLACE: kombuchabros.co.nz; glengarrywines.co.nz; Hobson Liquor and selected stores. THE TIME: 5pm

THE BREW: Kombucha Bros have been brewing fermented kombucha elixirs from their Nelson-based brewery since 2016. Their ethos is to use natural and organic ingredients with a 100 per cent fermentation process from fermenter to can — or, as they say, “No fluff, no dilution, no bulls*** and we have fun while doing it.” This summer they added a hibiscus flavour, using free trade whole flowers infused in organic sencha green tea kombucha.

Now they’re venturing into “hard booch”, with two alcoholic kombuchas; Passionfruit Easy is made from fresh passionfruit pulp and organic green tea that becomes naturally fermented alcohol with the addition of champagne yeast. The result is a refreshingly tart, fruity, fizzy elixir. Gin Blend uses an aromatic gin made exclusively to go with their ginger kombucha — and it’s a match made in heaven, a deliciously tangy, bubbly, gingery brew with a slight hint of lingering gin. It makes a great aperitif served chilled.

The inspiration for these natural alcoholic brews was to avoid hangovers for their early rising surfs. And they claim the low-sugar (2.8g in the gin and 1.8g for the passionfruit) coupled with natural acetic acids and acetobacter helps. Either way, these brews are wholesome and delicious concoctions in a can.

For 20 per cent off and free shipping on orders of $40 or more — use the codes BREWDAY20 and FREESHIPPING.