Unity Vibration Blackberry/Grape Kombucha

Eamon had just picked me up from the Airport from my trip to (Savor). We stopped at a loal beer and Liquor store so he could get his dad some beer for fathers day. I found this, as well as several of Unity Vibrations Kombucha Beers. I was able to taste this Monday morning while Eamon was running to get his car from the Founder's parking lot.

Appearance: Opaque pink in color with no apparent accumulation of foam on the surface. Some bubbles cling to the side of the glass within, but very little carbonation is visible, except for the occasional eruption of a bubble from the base of the glass.
Aroma: A faint acetic funk followed by some elements of an outdoorsy must. The typical kombucha scent. I don't really get the flavor of blackberries, however.
Taste: What starts with a faint acidic fizz, slowly grows into a mellowed sweetness to finish, only to bite back again to dry out the palate in a refreshing quench. I do get a nice complexity of berry fruit, specifically blackberry here, alongside some notes of apple, grape and even a touch of banana in the very end. The aftertaste is satisfyingly fruity without being overbearing.
Mouthfeel: Like I said earlier, there is a soft fizz present, that lasts the majority of the time the liquid is on the palate. It both creates a fuller mouthfeel, and a refreshing bite as it travels down the throat. I find there to be a cloying element at the back of the throat that seems to also fuel an aftertaste.
Overall Impression: This is the most balance kombucha I've had to-date. It's simple by nature, but exhibits the characteristics expected in a natural, not-overwhelming way. The acetic acid is kept minimal while displaying the fruity potential of kombucha. Grape and blackberry are the most dominant flavors.

Unity Vibrations Ginger Kombucha

Tasted at the plant with Jeff Dyke on Saturday afternoon as I was homebrewing a Nugget IPA. I purchased this beer from Kings Cove in Holland. Thanks to Dennis Kotecki for bringing Unity Vibrations out here!

Appearance: A pale straw color and a lot more clear then I was expecting. Still some haze is present. At first there looks to be very little carbonation, but as it sits, quite a few bubbles begin to grow along the sides.
Aroma: Initially I get a note of somewhat of a solvent/artificial scent in conjunction with an orange/lemon juice concentrate characteristic. Strong perfume.
Taste: Similar to the aroma, I get a boastful note of orange and lemon in the foretaste. To follow is a rich sweetness that gives depth and quaffability to the beers flavor. Ultimately the reidual sweetness balances the otherwise dominant emon, solvent, ginger and orange flavors that would otherwise overpower. The aftertaste is reminiscent of cider.
Mouthfeel: Thicker than many kombuchas I've had. Carbonation is minimal, but enough to add a nice texture, though it may over enhance the solventy orange flavor. Finish is semi-dry, with a cloy at the roof of the mouth.
Overall Impression: This kombucha has more of a residual sweetness than many I've had. In fact, it's the sweetest, thickest one yet. I don't know if a lot of that sugar was intentionally left unfermented. However, the spices are a unique far between twist on this crafted beverage. For my own learning, I may try to up the ginger on my next batch at New Holland.


Check them out, Michigan's Kombucha Brewery: Unity Vibration

Unity Vibrations Raspberry Kombucha Beer

This was my first and only purchase from Sicilianos during my first time checking them out. Tasted Sunday morning while drinking tea and brewing my own batch of kombucha.
Snifter Served
8% ABV

Appearance: Upon pour, the beer takes on almost a fluorescent, radioactive pink/red appearance. In the glass, the beer is partially cloudy with very little carbonation (even the crack of the bottle cap let out only the slightest hiss). No head stands atop the liquid.
Aroma: Fruity, funky and choked full of raspberry aromatics. Some of the esters perfuming from the glass give a faint rubbing alcohol/cleaner scent.
Taste: My first impression was that this tasted extremely similar of mead with a strong phenolic backbone and estery spice beginning in the mid taste an growing thereafter. However, the proceeding samples gradually came off more and more medicinal, especially with the compliment of the raspberries. As it warms, more of the familiar vinegar/acetic flavor emerges.

Mouthfeel: There is still some residual sugar left over from the bottle conditioning and perhaps pre-mature crashing. This helps add a bit of body to the otherwise strongly acidic and light textured mouthfeel. No carbonated feel.
Overall Impression: Certainly an interesting beverage. Something I would buy a pint of again if I saw it at a bar? Sure, to support the brewery, but to buy in the bottle again for $3.59 again? not a chance. Not especially drinkable given the strong phenolic and sugary flavors. With that 8% ABV, I think a second addition of sugar was too much. And the raspberries further added to the medicinal flavor.

Check them out: Unity Vibration Kombucha