KKON22 – Kombucha Kup Award of Excellence Winners
The Kombucha Brewers International KKON22 conference in Long Beach, California, concluded on Friday April 1 with the Kombucha Kup Awards of Excellence. Eight judges (I was one) spent two days tasting over 80 entries in the seven categories:
- Original (unflavored)
- Ginger/Spice
- Fruited
- Floral/Herbs
- Hops
- Hard Kombucha
- Jun
The tastings were completely ‘blind’ with coded samples delivered to the tasting room. After an initial elimination round, six in each category went forward to the final round where the Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals were awarded. Congratulations to all the winners, and for those brands who were not selected (or did not even enter!) there is always next year.
And the winners are:
Original Kombucha
Gold: Happy Gut Sanctuary, Rochester, New York – Amaterasu
Silver: Lao Kombucha, Quebec, Canada – Crystal
Bronze: Kaldi Kombucha, Antigua Guatemala – Natural
Ginger/Spice Kombucha
Gold: Cloud Mountain Kombucha, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois – Lemon Balm Ginger
Silver: Federal Brewing Company, Federalsburg, Maryland- Imperial Gold
Bronze: Swiss Kombucha Company, Zug, Switzerland – Carrot Ginger Turmeric
Fruited Kombucha
Gold: Cloud Mountain Kombucha, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois – Autumn Mary
Silver: Elixir Kombucha, Louisville, Kentucky – Grapefruit, Hibiscus & Orange Peel
Bronze: Boochy Call Kombucha, Sharpsburg, Maryland – Full Monty
Floral/Herbs Kombucha
Gold: Swiss Kombucha Company, Zug, Switzerland – Elderflower, Lime & Mint
Silver: Happy Gut Sanctuary, Rochester, New York – Echinacea
Bronze: Nokkos Kombucha, Helsinki, Finland – Heather & Gooseberry
Hops Kombucha
Gold: Spring Branch Kombucha, Springfield, Missouri – Lemon Hops
Silver: Yugen Kombucha, Knokke-Heist, Belgium – Grapefruit Hops
Bronze: Ninja Kombucha, Richmond, Virginia – Dry Hopped Lemon Ginger
Hard Kombucha
Gold: Arlo Boozy Kombucha, Delta, BC, Canada – Raspberry
Silver: Arlo Boozy Kombucha, Delta, BC, Canada – Mango
Bronze: Strainge Beast, Chico, California – Watermelon, Sea Salt, Lime & Mint
Jun
Gold: Happy Gut Sanctuary, Rochester, New York – Dragon’s Nectar
Silver: Revel Kombucha, Ojai, California – Hoppy Valley
Bronze: Revel Kombucha, Ojai, California – Pink Moment