JuneShine Hard Kombucha Review: A Refreshing Alcoholic Beverage for the Health-Conscious
If you‘re a health-focused individual who still enjoys unwinding with an adult beverage from time to time, you may have found yourself in a bit of a predicament. Many alcoholic drinks are loaded with artificial ingredients, excess sugar, and mysterious additives. Enter JuneShine, a hard kombucha brand that‘s on a mission to offer a better-for-you RTD alcohol option without compromising on taste. In this comprehensive JuneShine kombucha review, we‘ll dive into the brand‘s story, values, and popular flavors to help you determine if it‘s worth adding to your cooler this season.
About JuneShine Hard Kombucha
JuneShine was founded by a group of friends in San Diego who shared a passion for health, transparency, and enjoying life‘s moments. Greg Serrao and Forrest Dein set out to create a delicious alcoholic kombucha using real, organic ingredients and an authentic brewing process. The result is a unique line of flavors with 4-6% ABV that provides a buzz with benefits.
One of the key differentiators for JuneShine is their commitment to transparency. In an industry that isn‘t required to disclose ingredients or nutritional information, JuneShine lists out exactly what goes into each of their beverages. They use organic green tea, honey, fruit juice, spices, and SCOBY to create the kombucha base, which is then double fermented to raise the alcohol content. You won‘t find any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in these cans.
JuneShine also prioritizes sustainability, operating as a carbon-neutral company. They partner with Climate Neutral to measure and offset their carbon footprint, as well as 1% for the Planet to support environmental nonprofits. From their ingredients to their operations, JuneShine aims to leave a positive impact.
JuneShine‘s Most Popular Flavors Reviewed
Now for the really exciting part of this JuneShine review – tasting notes on some of their most raved-about flavors. With unique combinations and intriguing ingredients, these aren‘t your average hard seltzers or canned cocktails.
Blood Orange Mint
This refreshing flavor is a JuneShine fan favorite and it‘s easy to see why. The bright, sweet-tart blood orange is perfectly balanced by cooling mint for a combo that screams summer. At 6% ABV, Blood Orange Mint is crisp and dry with just a hint of sweetness. Enjoy it straight from the chilled can or poured over ice garnished with fresh mint.
Midnight Painkiller
For something a little different, reach for a Midnight Painkiller. This flavor marries the tropical notes of pineapple, orange, and coconut with the warmth of nutmeg. But here‘s the really intriguing part – it also contains activated charcoal. This detoxifying ingredient gives the can its dark, moody color and provides a unique twist. With 6% ABV, this is a great option for evening sipping.
Honey Ginger Lemon
If you‘re a fan of classic kombucha flavors, Honey Ginger Lemon offers a spiked version of a tried and true combo. Organic honey provides a touch of sweetness, while spicy ginger and bright lemon even things out. At 4% ABV, this is a light, easy-drinking flavor that you can feel good about reaching for.
Acai Berry
Acai is a superfood that‘s gained a lot of buzz in recent years for its antioxidant content and vibrant color. JuneShine harnesses those beneficial properties and delicious berry flavor in their Acai Berry hard kombucha. This one is fruit-forward with a pleasant pucker and underlying earthiness from the acai. With 6% ABV, it‘s a fun twist on the acai bowls and smoothies you may already love.
Chili Mango
Turn up the heat with JuneShine‘s Chili Mango flavor. This one starts out lush and tropical, with the sweet flavor of ripe mango. But it quickly takes a spicy turn, with a tongue-tingling kick of habanero pepper. It‘s an unexpected combination but somehow it just works, especially for those who crave a bit of capsaicin. At 6% ABV, Chili Mango will wake up your taste buds.
Grapefruit Paloma
Transport yourself to a beachside bar in Mexico with JuneShine‘s take on a classic paloma cocktail. Grapefruit Paloma features the zippy citrus notes of grapefruit and lime for a tart, refreshing sip. It has all the flavor of a carefully crafted cocktail, with the portable convenience of a can. 6% ABV means it can stand in for your usual happy hour order.
Hibiscus Lime
For something a bit more floral and effervescent, try Hibiscus Lime. Hibiscus has a lovely rosy-pink color and tart, cranberry-like flavor that‘s popular in teas and cocktails. Paired with lime, it makes for a bright, tangy hard kombucha that‘s a bit lighter at 4.2% ABV. This one is easy to drink and perfect for day-drinking in the sun.
What Makes JuneShine Different?
In case it‘s not already apparent, JuneShine isn‘t your average canned alcoholic beverage. The brand goes above and beyond in several key ways:
Ingredient Integrity – JuneShine uses real, organic ingredients like green tea, honey, fruit, and spices. There are no artificial additives, GMOs, or gluten.
Double Fermentation – Unlike regular kombucha which hovers around 0.5% ABV, JuneShine boosts the alcohol content to 4-6% through a secondary fermentation. This gives you a noticeable buzz with the probiotic benefits of kombucha.
Unique Flavor Combos – From Chili Mango to Midnight Painkiller, JuneShine pushes boundaries with their interesting flavor pairings. They keep things exciting while still delivering great taste.
Transparency & Sustainability – JuneShine is upfront about their ingredients and makes an effort to reduce their environmental impact through responsible sourcing, carbon offsets, and charitable partnerships.
Accessible Price Point – For a craft, RTD beverage with organic ingredients, JuneShine is priced quite reasonably. A 6-pack will run you around $15 which is comparable to other hard kombuchas and premium canned cocktails.
What Are Customers Saying About JuneShine?
Based on the reviews and ratings on the JuneShine website and trusted third-party sources like BevNet, it seems JuneShine is living up to the hype. Here are some key themes that emerged from customer feedback:
Great Taste – Many reviewers raved about the flavors, noting that they delivered on the promised taste profiles. Some called out Honey Ginger Lemon and Blood Orange Mint as their favorites. A few folks noted that JuneShine has a pronounced kombucha flavor, which can be an acquired taste for some.
High Quality Ingredients – Multiple people mentioned that they appreciate JuneShine‘s commitment to using real, organic ingredients. The transparency around what goes into each can was a huge selling point.
Reasonable ABV – Some customers shared that they like the 4-6% ABV, noting that it provides a nice buzz without overdoing it. JuneShine can be a great option for day-drinking and longer hangouts versus getting too intoxicated.
Fun to Share – Many reviewers mentioned bringing JuneShine to beach days, pool parties, BBQs, and other social gatherings. They‘ve been a hit with friends and make for a fun conversation starter.
How Does JuneShine Compare to Other Hard Kombuchas?
JuneShine isn‘t the only hard kombucha on the market, so how does it stack up to the competition? Let‘s take a look at some key points of differentiation:
Flying Embers – This is probably JuneShine‘s closest competitor, with a very similar vibe and target demographic. Flying Embers offers unique flavors like Pineapple Chili and Grapefruit Thyme. They also use an adaptogenic root blend and tout their 0g of sugar (JuneShine uses organic honey so it does contain some sugar). One key difference is that Flying Embers offers a 7% ABV option which is higher than JuneShine‘s current offerings.
Boochcraft – Another popular option, Boochcraft differentiates itself by using a longer fermentation process (up to 4 months) which gives their kombucha a smoother, less sweet taste. They also offer higher ABV options up to 7%. However, their flavor options are a bit more limited and don‘t have the same exotic flair as JuneShine.
Wild Tonic – If you‘re looking for something a bit boozier, Wild Tonic offers an impressive 7.6% ABV in their hard jun kombucha (jun is made with honey instead of cane sugar). They use more traditional flavor combos like Raspberry Goji Rose and Blueberry Basil. However, the higher alcohol content and more pronounced fermented flavor may be a bit intense for some.
The Final Word on JuneShine Hard Kombucha
So is JuneShine worth trying? If you‘re looking for a unique RTD alcoholic beverage that aligns with your health-conscious values, then the answer is a resounding yes. JuneShine delivers on flavor, ingredient quality, and social responsibility in a way that really sets them apart.
While hard kombucha may not be for everyone, it‘s definitely worth sampling to see if it could become your new go-to. JuneShine makes it easy with their variety packs that let you try an assortment of flavors. Grab a pack for your next outdoor gathering and get ready to answer questions from curious friends who want to know what you‘re sipping on.
One thing to note is that even the lighter ABV options are still a good bit higher than regular kombucha or even most standard beers. If you‘re used to drinking hard seltzer, JuneShine may hit you a little harder thanks to the kombucha base (it has B-vitamins and antioxidants after all). As always, enjoy responsibly!
Ultimately, I think JuneShine is a brand to keep on your radar as they continue to expand and innovate. The hard kombucha category is still fairly new but rapidly growing, and I have no doubt that the JuneShine team will continue to lead the charge with their fun flavors and commitment to transparency. If you‘re looking to mix up your cooler stash this season with something unexpected and a little better for you, reach for a colorful can of JuneShine.
