North Yorkshire beer producer Theakston Brewery and Calderdale’s fermentation pioneer Equinox Kombucha have joined forces to launch an innovative new product: Hopbucha.
An alcohol-free brew that brings together the rich tradition of British beer-making with the naturally fermented character of kombucha, Hopbucha has already been awarded a coveted Great Taste one-star award.
Hopbucha takes Equinox’s classic fermented tea and flavours it using Theakston’s hop-blending expertise, adding a twist of citrus bitterness and refreshing character that will please even the most devoted beer drinker.
With growing demand for no-alcohol drinks that appeal to adult palates, the two Yorkshire-based companies saw an opportunity to combine their expertise.
Equinox Managing Director, Andy Braithwaite says: “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. 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.”
Hopbucha will initially be available online via Amazon, theakstons.co.uk and equinoxkombucha.com, before rolling out nationally to supermarkets, convenience stores, farm shops and the hospitality sector.