Whether or not you know what it is, chances are you’ve heard of kombucha. The fermented tea drink is having a moment, spurred on by its beneficial digestive properties.

Kombucha uses yeast and bacteria cultures to create a lightly effervescent drink that promotes superior digestion.
Kombucha is a fermented beverage, so it was inevitable that enterprising brewers would use the base to create unique alcoholic drinks.
Hard kombucha gives you a buzz with fewer calories and lower sugar levels. The brewers value organic and natural ingredients, and the beverages are primarily vegan and gluten-free.
Every kombucha is made with a SCOBY-Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast. This substance creates the fermentation process; without it, kombucha wouldn’t exist.
We’ve scoured the internet to find the best hard kombucha companies. These brewers prioritize high-quality ingredients while supporting their communities and creating fun, delicious flavors.
Boochcraft
Brewed from all organic ingredients in Chula Vista, California, Boochcraft is as socially conscious as it is delicious.
Drinkers can enjoy the beverage knowing it comes from the first hard kombucha brand to attain B-Corp certification.
This accolade recognizes Boochcraft for practicing the social and ecological ideals they espouse.
While social responsibility is important, it doesn’t necessarily translate to great taste.
Luckily, Boochcraft’s fresh and authentic ingredients create delicious flavors, including:
- Apple Jasmine
- Ginger Lime
- Grapefruit Hibiscus
- Orange Pomegranate
- Strawberry Lemonade
The brewery also offers seasonal flavors based on the produce available at the time. Employees craft Liquid Art Lab flavors, which are limited release.
Boochcraft never uses artificial flavors or purees and is:
- Certified organic
- 100 percent vegan
- Gluten free
Ingredients vary depending on the flavor, but every kombucha has the same core components:
- Raw kombucha
- Cold-pressed fruit juices
- Yeast
Booch craft contains trace amounts of caffeine, about 21 mg per 12 ounces. The kombucha must be kept chilled and has 7.0 percent alcohol by volume.
Flying Embers
Flying Embers named their brewery after the wildfires that nearly decimated their company.
To honor their past, they created a non-profit called The Embers Foundation. Flying Embers donates 1 percent of all company revenue to the fund.
Flying Embers crafts their crisp kombuchas from a combination of wild yeast and champagne yeast. Each can has 19 milligrams of caffeine, with no carbs or sugar.
Flying Embers has taprooms in Los Angeles, Boston, and Santa Barbara, where they sell their unique flavor combinations. Their kombucha flavors include:
- Grapefruit Thyme: 4.5% abv
- Cucumber Juniper: 4.5% abv
- Watermelon Basil: 4.5% abv
- Wild Berry: 4.5% abv
- Cherry Hibiscus Lime: 7.2% abv
- Orange Passion Mimosa: 6.9% abv
- Ginger: 7.0% abv
- Black Cherry: 7.2% abv
- Pineapple Chili: 6.8% abv
- Mango Coconut: 7.0% abv
Jiant
Jiant came to life in a couple of bud’s Southern California apartments.
Now Aaron Telch and Larry Haetel, Jr. brewed their kombucha in Colorado.
Brewed with organic green tea, Jiant kombucha is low in sugar and gluten-free.
All-organic, non-processed ingredients include:
- Dragon well green tea
- Acacia honey
- Botanicals and herbs
- A small measure of natural fruit juices
- Yeast
- Cane sugar
Jiant offers seasonal flavors, but their constant core options include:
- Original
- Hicamaya
- Guavamente
- Gingerly
- Mai tai
The brewery uses responsibly sourced ingredients, so Jiant doesn’t negatively affect the environment.
Each kombucha flavor contains 4.5% abv and 20 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce can.
Jiant is a great starting point for Kombucha novices. The flavor is delicious, crisp, and mild.
JuneShine
Greg Serrao and Forrest Dein started JuneShine in a garage in 2018.
Since then, the San Diego brewery has hand-crafted delicious, organic, gluten-free hard kombucha with environmental consciousness.
JuneShine is a carbon-neutral company. They donate one percent of their profits to 1% for the Environment, a collection of environmental non-profit organizations.
While JuneShine’s use of honey prevents them from vegan certification, drinkers can enjoy the kombucha knowing it’s devoid of:
- Additives
- Preservatives
- Coloring
- Pesticides
- GMOs
- Corn syrup
- Rice syrup
JuneShine’s unique flavor combinations include:
- Coco rico: 8% abv
- Mango daydream: 6% abv
- POG (passion fruit, orange, and guava): 6% abv
- Prickly Pear Margarita: 6% abv
- Grapefruit Paloma: 6% abv
- Blood Orange Mint: 6% abv
- Midnight Painkiller: 6% abv
- Hopical Citrus: 6% abv
- Acai Berry: 6% abv
- Honey Ginger Lemon: 6% abv
All of JuneShine’s flavors are built on the same foundation:
- Green tea
- Honey
- Cane sugar
- Organic juices and spices
Kombrewcha
Kombrewcha produces its gluten-free, organic brew in Long Island, New York.
These delicious, low-sugar kombuchas have very low alcohol content. Every flavor contains 3.2 percent abv.
Kombrewcha’s ingredients include:
- Fairtrade black tea
- Water
- Sugar
- Organic yeast
Kombrewcha’s low alcohol content makes it an ideal mixer for cocktails.
While the Original flavor tastes like a cross between cider and beer, the many fruit fusion flavors lend themselves to light, summery mixed drinks.
Amateur bartenders will be delighted by options including:
- Berry Hibiscus
- Ginger Lemon
- Blood Orange
- Mango Pineapple
- Lemongrass Lime
- Royal Ginger
Kombrewcha is shelf-stable and doesn’t need to be chilled. It has minimal caffeine, so you can use it in your nightcaps without losing sleep.
Strainge Beast
The brainchild of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Strainge Beast uses all organic ingredients to make their whimsical kombucha fusions.
The gluten-free, vegan kombucha has the same amount of caffeine as a standard cup of black tea.
Strainge Beast’s ingredients are certified organic by Oregon Tilth and include:
- Water
- Organic sugar
- Organic, loose-leaf tea
- Yeast
- Organic fruit
- Spices and herbs
The kombucha is created through a double fermentation process and comes in twelve-ounce cans. The innovative flavors include:
- Ginger: 7% abv
- Lemon & Hibiscus: 7% abv
- Blueberry, acai, & sweet basil: 7% abv
- Blood orange & Passion Fruit: 7%
- Watermelon, Sea Salt, Lime & Mint: 4% abv
Strainge beast lasts 150 days past its canning date and should be kept chilled.
Unity Vibration
Based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Unity Vibrations crafts kombucha that’s all about positivity.
The brewers treat the fermentation process as a spiritual experience. Each brew vessel is inscribed with positive affirmations.
Unity Vibrations use organic, fair trade, certified vegan ingredients. The kombucha is a kosher treat and is brewed with structured water that helps maintain optimal hydration while promoting higher energy levels and better digestion and regularity.
The tap rooms support non-profits through the sales of such flavors as:
- Tart raspberry: 8.2% abv
- Funky Ginger: 9.1% abv
- Pale Ale: 8.2% abv
- Bourbon Peach: 8.2% abv
- Elderwand: 8% abv
- Citra Blood Orange: 8% abv
- BrewGyver: 8.26% abv
- Kriek Tisane: 8% abv
- Silver Branch: 11% abv
- Cream ale: 8% abv
Unity Vibrations all-natural ingredients include:
- Organic dried hops
- Organic dried ginger root
- Organic fresh raspberries
- Organic peaches
- Three types of hops
- Juniper
- Grapefruit rind
KYLA
KYLA’s name is an acronym for the main components of their brew: Kombucha, Yeast, Lactobacillus, and Acetobacter.
Brewed in Hood River, Oregon, the shelf-stable beverage contains less caffeine than a cup of decaf coffee.
KYLA’s gluten-free and vegan flavors include:
- Ginger tangerine: 4.5% abv
- Pink Grapefruit: 4.5% abv
- Lychee Lemonade: 6.5% abv
- Sunset Trio: 6.5% abv
- Lavender Lemonade: 6.5% abv
- Coconut Crush: 6.5% abv
- Bergamot Blood Orange Fizz: 7% abv
- Shiso Mint Mojito: 7% abv
- Lemon Verbena Drop: 7% abv
KYLE is at its best chilled. Its ingredients are:
- Water
- Organic black tea
- Kombucha culture
- Natural flavors
- Organic Reb A
- Organic Erythritol
You should consume the kombucha within 25 weeks of the packaging date on the can.
Walker Brothers
The titular Walker Brothers – Luke and Sam – created their kombucha in their garage.
Headquartered in Nashville, Walker Brothers created their brew to help you enjoy a craft beer experience without the resulting digestive problems.
The gluten-free, vegan flavors include:
- Blueberry Juniper: 5% abv
- Watermelon lime: 5% abv
- High gravity ginger: 5% abv
- Citra: 5% abv
- Tell me I’m pretty: 5% abv
- Rest in peach: 5% abv
The brew is truly a family affair; the brothers brew their kombucha with a SCOBY passed down from their aunt. Made with all certified organic ingredients, the kombucha includes:
- Filtered water
- Kombucha culture
- Black tea
- Green tea
- Jasmine tea
- Cane sugar
- Yeast
Afterglow
Jeff Weaber began AfterGlow in his house’s basement in 2007.
Brewed in Middlebury, Vermont, the hard kombucha is an offshoot of the Aqua ViTea company. Every gluten-free flavor contains 5% alcohol by volume.
The kombucha is shelf-stable, but the brewers recommend consuming it at 38-41 degrees.
Flavors include:
- Ginger blue
- Citrus rush
- Cherry sour
- Apricot dream
Every eight-ounce can contains between eight and fourteen milligrams of caffeine.
The kombucha uses all certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, paleo-friendly ingredients, including:
- Water
- Green tea
- Black tea
- Cane sugar
- Kombucha culture
- Ale yeast
- Fruit juices from concentrate
Afterglow has a slightly vinegary taste that appeals to lovers of sour beers and tart wines.
Luna Bay Booch
Luna Bay Booch is the first and only all-female hard kombucha company in the United States.
The Chicago-based team donates one percent of proceeds to environmental non-profits.
Their funds support I Grow Chicago, 1% For the Planet, and Brave Space Alliance.
Every flavor is fermented to six percent abv. The ingredients are all-natural, ethically sourced, gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, probiotic, and low sugar.
Luna Bay Booch’s flavor fusions include:
- Watermelon sea salt
- Raspberry rose
- Grapefruit jalapeno
- Palo Santo Blueberry
- Ginger Lemon
- Hibiscus Lavender
- Luna Bay Light Lychee Lime
All flavors are brewed with Yerba Mate Tea, fresh fruit, and herbs sourced from local farms.
With 21 milligrams of caffeine per serving, the kombucha makes an excellent mixer for cocktails.
Dr. Hops
Headquartered in San Leandro, California, Dr. Hops is partnered with Impact Tree to do good in the community.
Impact Tree has a list of charitable, socially positive approved actions users complete to earn points. Users who complete seven actions earn a sample four-pack of Dr. Hops.
The kombucha is made with natural fruit and no extracts. The cold-crashed ingredients are never filtered or put through a centrifuge. Dr. Hops uses only all-fair trade components, which include:
- Yerba Mate green and black tea
- Cane sugar
- Kombucha
- Select brewers yeast
- Organic
- Unpasteurized fruit
- Herbs and hops
With less than ½ a milligram of caffeine per can, the non-GMO, gluten, and grain-free flavors never include pasteurized purees. The kombuchas are:
- Kombucha rose: 11% abv
- Ginger Lime: 10% abv
- Apple Pie Seasonal: 10% abv
- Kombucha IPA: 9% abv
- Strawberry Lemon: 8% abv
Local Roots
Local Roots is another family-centered company created by cousins Ryan White and Joe Carmichael.
Based in Vista, California, the business was born in their personal kitchens in 2017.
Local Roots crafts their delicious kombucha using all organic ingredients.
The USDA organic ingredients include:
- Yeast
- Bacteria
- Sugar
- Tea
- Raw fruit
- Living probiotics
The kombucha is gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, kosher, and contains no artificial sweeteners.
Local Roots uses a slow fermentation process to create their unusual flavors, including:
- Strawberry Mojito: 6% abv
- Blood Orange Mimosa: 6% abv
- Cali Mule: 6% abv
- Island Vibes: 6% abv
- Purple Haze: 6% abv
- Peachy Tee Time: 4.5% abv
- Lavender Lemonade: 4.5%
- Prickly Pear Punch: 4.5% abv
- Hop ‘n Citrus: 6% abv
The company believes in putting its profits back into its community. They’ve supported:
- All Together Beer: a charitable foundation that provides support for struggling members of the brewing community
- AIDS walk & run San Diego
- Father Joe’s Village: an organization that provides relief to the homeless community
Allkind
Allkind is a subdivision of Odell Brewing Co, the 18th largest brewery in the United States. in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Odell Brewing is entirely employee-owned, and their hard kombucha brewing is a labor of love and passion.
The beverages are gluten-free, organic, probiotic, and contain no carbs. They are, however, made with:
- Organic black and green tea
- Real fruits
- Juice, purees
- House SCOBY
Allkind are members of 1% for the Planet-a group of companies who pledge 1% of their annual revenue to environmental causes. Their hard kombucha flavors are:
- Juicy Citrus: 6.0% abv
- Super Berry: 6.5% abv
- Tropical Turmeric: 6.5% abv