The Beeronaut
Luna Bay Hard Kombucha: One-Man Taste Panel
Earlier this month, I ran my interview with Bridget Connelly, co-founder of Luna Bay Booch. This brand of hard kombucha was developed in Chicago, tested and scaled up at Pilot Project Brewing, and is now expanding nationwide in cans from Denver’s Crazy Mountain Brewing Co.
My disclosure: the request to cover this brand came with an offer of samples to try. I received one can of each of their flagship flavors, and went through them one at a time.
I turned this tasting into a procedure: I’d try each drink straight, and then finish it off in a mixed drink. This has worked out well with my writing about other kombuchas and a ginger beer. I figured this would turn into a chance to get the flavors or a syrup mixer, but with much less sugar.
Ginger and Lemon
It seems the logical thing to make of this would be a highball, with some ice and whiskey. The extra alcohol makes this a little more dry, and I found some of the wood the whiskey would have been aged in.
Hibiscus Lavender
Since this is a botanically-focused drink, I figured to mix with a botanical liquor; in this case, the Monkey 47 Gin I was sent earlier. There’s an extra bit of floral taste added, and the dryness of the gin keeps everything in check. But I felt it needed a little bit of lime juice to round it out.
Palo Santo Blueberry
I figured a complex combination like this would required a neutral spirit like vodka. Here the alcohol opens up the taste of yeast and wood into a sort of perfume. Blueberries never quite take over the palate, which works out well.
These turn out to be pretty good by themselves, and a nice mixer. Since there is some yeast left in the can, it’s a good idea to have them fresh or keep chilled.
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Mark McDermott
Writer, trivia maven, fan of many things. I thought to learn all there is to know about beer as a way to stay interested in learning. It is my pleasure to bring Chicago’s craft beer scene to you.
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