Sierra Nevada quietly launched Strainge Beast Hard Kombucha in February of last year. The brand launched in three unique hard kombucha flavors including Ginger, Lemon & Hibiscus, Blueberry, Acai & Sweet Basil, and Passionfruit, Hops & Blood Orange. Now the Northern California-based brewing company is releasing three additional flavors, including two 100 calorie options. 

Strainge Beast recently added a Grapefruit, Pomegranate & Cucumber flavor to its standard lineup and has just launched two lower calorie options which promise a “big flavor [and] little bite.”

Included in the 100 calorie varieties is Raspberry, Golden Kiwi & Elderflower, which the company describes as, “Tangled with berries, blossoms and kiwifruit, the complex aroma leads to distinct flavor of raspberries, including their tangy sweetness.”

The second lower calorie offering, Watermelon, Sea Salt, Lime & Mint, features an aroma that “says summertime, with watermelon and mint putting you poolside. The lime is bright and pleasantly tart, while sea salt rides through the finish to reel you back in.”

For reference, the drinks in Strainge Beast’s standard hard kombucha line contain between 180 and 190 calories per 12 ounce can and include as much as 14 grams of carbs and 12 grams of sugar. Their 100 calorie options boast nearly half as many calories, only 5 grams of carbs and 4 grams of sugar for the same 12 ounce serving.

The two lower calorie options have an ABV of 4%, while the flavors in the standard line all have an ABV of 7%. The 100 calorie flavors are packaged in standard-shaped cans while the original line is packaged in skinny cans. All options are natural, vegan-friendly, certified organic and gluten free. 

Kombucha is brewed with a base of tea leaves and water. The tea base is then fermented with a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), creating the drink’s signature fizzy and tangy flavor profile.

Strainge Beast’s SCOBY is unique in that it was specially developed in partnership with Oregon State University. To make hard kombucha the mixture is fermented a second time, reintroducing alcohol to the beverage. Strainge Beast Hard Kombucha is brewed with organic green and black tea and each can contains about as much caffeine as a cup of black tea. 

A Strainge Beast brand representative explained, “We really wanted to get a flavor that was nice, bright, and clean. You’ll notice some kombuchas have kind of a vinegary flavor, and that’s from acetic acid. So we wanted a SCOBY that was going to produce a lot of gluconic acid which is kind of a brighter, fresher, more citrusy flavor. So that’s what you’ll find in all of these.”

Strainge Beast’s Instagram even provides inspiration for consumers who want to take the brand’s quirky and complex flavors to the next level. @straingebeast highlights recipes for Mojitos, Moscow Mules, Old Fashioneds and more made with their line of hard kombuchas. 

But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a mixologist to enjoy Strainge Beast. The beverages come ready-to-drink (RTD) right out of the can. The brand insists, “Making fruits, botanicals, bacteria, and yeast all play nice together? Plenty can go wrong. But done right, you’ve got yourself a delicious love triangle of flavors.”

Strainge Beast is currently available in select markets and will be launching in additional markets soon.

Shirani Jayasuriya
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