Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage made from sweetened tea and a culture of bacteria and yeast called a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast).

Kombucha is believed to have originated in China over 2,000 years ago and has since been consumed in various cultures worldwide. According to legend, a Korean physician named Dr. Kombu treated an ailing Japanese emperor with a fermented tea (’cha’) that eventually became known as Dr. Kombu’s cha, over time becoming "kombucha." The tea was said to have healing properties and was credited with restoring the emperor's health. Since that time, it’s popularity has been steadily growing.

Bower hard kombucha is organic, sustainable, gluten-free, hard kombucha (4% ABV). We ferment our kombucha twice, once with our unique kombucha SCOBY (symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria) to create a clean kombucha base, followed by a secondary fermentation to create alcohol. We then flavour with the highest-quality fresh organic fruit juices, herbs and spices.

Kombucha is slightly tangy and a little fizzy, often described as tart. The flavour can vary depending on the brewing process and flavourings. When made right, it’s delicious. Our kombucha has a pleasant sweet-tart flavour that's not tooaggressively funky. We like to think that our booch is the smoothest our there and like nothing you’ve ever tried before.

We currently have two flavours available to purchase in cans and on draft; Watermelon & Mint, and Passionfruit & Raspberry. We’re always developing new seasonal flavours and we’ll keep releasing them as soon as that sweet nectar is ready to serve. Swing by our brewery to taste the good stuff before anyone else!

Kombucha contains the following beneficial properties and associated health benefits;

Probiotics: As a fermented beverage kombucha contains live bacteria and yeasts, which are known as probiotics. Probiotics feed your gut microbiome by boosting its beneficial bacteria population. Your gut microbiome, in turn, helps to improve digestion, metabolism and nutrient absorption. Probiotics also boost our immune system with their natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal properties.

Polyphenols and antioxidants: Kombucha is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, which are believed to have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting effects. These compounds may help protect the body against oxidative stress, which can contribute to a range of health problems.

Enzymes: Kombucha contains various enzymes, including amylase, protease, and lipase, which can help break down food in the digestive system. This can lead to improved digestion and increased energy, as the body is able to more efficiently extract nutrients from food.

Vitamins: Kombucha also contains numerous B vitamins including B6, B12, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. B vitamins are vital for proper energy metabolism and ensure that our cells function properly.

Organic acids: Kombucha contains several organic acids, including acetic acid, lactic acid, and gluconic acid. These acids are believed to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and may help to support immune function, regulate blood pressure, improve cardiovascular function and blood sugar regulation.

Yes, you do get the benefits of regular kombucha, outlined above, in hard kombucha. However, hard kombucha typically contains low levels of alcohol, which is of course a toxin to the human and doesn’t have any real health benefits. But if you are going to drink alcohol, you might as well pair it with probiotics, organic acids, enzymes and vitamins.

Yes, Kombucha can aid digestion due to its potential probiotic content.

It is generally recommended that children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems should avoid consuming kombucha due to its potential alcohol content and the presence of bacteria and yeasts. We do not recommend that anyone under the age of 18, or pregnant women, consume our hard kombucha.

Yes, all of our hard kombucha flavours vegan-friendly!

Yes, organic raw cane sugar is used in the fermentation process but is mostly consumed by the SCOBY leaving only a small amount of sugar in the final product.

Generally speaking, the caffeine content in kombucha can vary depending on the tea used. Generally, black tea-based kombucha contains caffeine, while kombucha made with herbal teas or caffeine-free teas will have little to no caffeine. Our kombucha is made with green tea and after two fermentation only has small traces of caffeine in it.

All of our hard kombucha flavours are a light 4% ABV.

Kombucha is a fermented drink that is most commonly consumed raw, meaning unpasteurised — this is to protect the probiotics and nutrients in a living form from being damaged. Unpasteurised means not being subjected to pasteurisation via heat or chemical means. Pasteurisation essentially kills all the goodness in kombucha. It’s often used as a shortcut in the industry to create a shelf-stable product, but comes at the cost of the nutritional benefits of the drink.

The short answer is no, our products are never pasteurised. We started Bower to create a healthier way to enjoy a few cold ones, and we’re committed to giving people that option. To do so, we have to create a drink that is unpastuerised — maintaining the health benefits, the probiotics and nutrients, of the kombucha. The flip side of this is that our booch must be kept cold at all times.

Yes, Bower should be kept refrigerated at all times for the best drinking experience. Refrigeration is ideal since all of our flavours are unpastuerized and made with fresh fruit juices that can be altered after exposure to warm temperatures for too long. There is no health risk in drinking Bower at any temperature, but it's most delicious when enjoyed chilled! So keep it refrigerated at all times at 34-40º F or 1-4ºC. We keep our booch cold throughout the entire supply chain, from our fridge to yours.

When stored properly in the refrigerator, commercially bottled kombucha can typically last several months. When properly refrigerated, our hard kombucha has a shelf-life of 12 months.

You can buy directly from us through our online store or find a store near you on our online store locator on our 'Find Us' page.

We sell both. You can buy cases via our online store. If you’re interested in kegs, drop us a line at doorbell@bowerbrewing.com and we’ll get you set up with a keg!

That’s great to hear, we've been waiting to hear from you! Email us at doorbell@bowerbrewing.com and we’ll take it from there.

None of our beverage are eligible for return or exchange. All merch items purchased on our website are eligible for return within 14 days of receipt. To be eligible for a return, your merch item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. After 14 days, we are unable to issue a return for your item. To issue a return, email doorbell@bowerbrewing.com with your order number, return reason and any necessary photos. Our team will supply return labels via email and will process refunds/exchanges within 2 business days of the returns' arrival back in the warehouse. Exchanges must also be issued within 14 days of receipt through the same email process. Please include information on the new size or color you wish to receive in exchange. Once the returned product is received, our team will send out the new item within 2 business days of its arrival to the warehouse.

Great question! Bower is different in a few ways:

We brew kombucha which is smoother and less harsh than the kombucha you’re probably used to drinking because it’s made with green tea and fermented over 28 days, unlike most commercially produced kombucha brands.

We use organic, real ingredients: We don’t put any ingredients you can’t pronounce in our kombucha. It’s made with green tea, raw cane sugar, kombucha, and flavoured with fresh organic fruits, herbs and spices. No additives, no preservatives, no ‘natural’ flavours, no colouring, no rice syrup, no corn syrup, no pastuerization, no chemicals.

We started Bower to do some good in the world — sustainability, social and environmental impact is the end goal for us. Our ambition is to make Bower a leader in sustainable business and brewing. We believe in constant progress toward our sustainability, social and environmental impact goals. Here’s a list of what we’re working on, and what we’re committed to doing in the future;

- 1% For The Planet

- Supporting projects to help end the water crisis with Charity: Water

There’s so much we want to do and we couldn’t do it without you — thanks for your support.