Excursion: Unity Vibration, the Triple Goddess Tasting Room & Strawberry Kombucha

I’m thinking of making “Tea Excursions” a weekly blog event. The only issue is, in reality they’re too few and far in between and it’s more likely coincidence that I’ve managed several lately. This weekend my adventure gene was working overtime to overcome my trepidations and give you today and next week’s posts. Some weekends though i really don’t have the time, energy, money to devote (or i just downleft don’t look fabulous enough to go out in public–a big deal for a Transwoman). A year and a half ago I thought my bestfriend was a little crazy to commit so much, time, money and energy to writing a professional blog. But then, he has a consistent readership… ^^;;  Thus, I’m fairly unsure about the longevity of this venture, but I’ll give it a shot and see if it pans out. Besides, it gives me the opportunity to go back and spruce up some past blog posts (ie. feels productive).

While true that I’ve been a little hesitant to advocate for kombucha lately (in point of fact, you may recall the last time I mentioned it I said it would be the last time I reviewed one ever… being a liar is not a comfortable place for me to be -.-), I realized that I’ve already drank something like 300 gallons over the past few years and my bladder hasn’t seized up yet/toxicity levels look pretty great still. I think the key here is to buy kombucha you know you can trust. Unity Vibration is award winning and I don’t hesitate to sing their praises. Also, I tried living without kombucha and my IBS was unbareable.

Which brings me to part one of today’s post. Friday night after work (and after freeing myself from some horrendous traffic), I finally found myself parked at the Unity Vibration Triple Goddess Tasting Room in Ypsi. I hadn’t heard they were going to be opening a tasting room when it first debuted last September, or i would have just walked there from where I was living in Willow Run. I have always loved Unity Vibration kombucha and beer, even when I don’t enjoy this-or-that specific flavor they’ve put out. I think it’s seriously wonderful that I live so close to a fabulous eco-friendly, all-natural kombucha brewery committed to helping other area businesses. Their products are really tasty and have never failed to impress me on the Sprunk front. Two years ago Unity Vibration was basically the only thing I attended the Ypsi Brew Fest for (a $35 tea tasting? xD).

I was greeted warmly by Kat, one of their few but knowledgeable and friendly bartenders. Kat was super-excited to help me review their tasting room (a first for this blog?) and hook me up with some amazing kombucha and swag. One thing of particular note: I finally feel like a real Ypsilantier–i have a growler! Mind you, this growler is currently filled with Strawberry kombucha… *shrugs* It’s local, it counts.

The new drink for me that night was Kombucha Coffee, a blend of Unity Vibration kombucha and Roos Roast coffee (we’re not sure which roast but i digress). In a way the flavor was reminiscent of a coffee stout, but there are important differences: obviously the most important of which is that you won’t black out from drinking too much–it has no real alcohol content.  I ordered a flight of the three kombuchas on tap (including Original and Strawberry) and wish they had several more to sample. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy drinking kombucha on tap (a rarity if ever there was one). I think it’s a better experience than drinking beer on tap in that you won’t get wasted or spend a great deal of money hurting yourself. Plus, you can actually concentrate on enjoying your beverage and your conversation at the same time. ;)

In addition to the growler of freshly tapped Strawberry kombucha (drool), I also came away with a T-shirt and two UV insignia Belgian fluted glasses. And so, I’m able to provide you with a review of the Strawberry, complete with authentic paraphernalia/drinking experience!  Though in reality, I’m allowing myself to indulge quite indecorously by pouring a full beer glass of this stuff for one sitting: it’s potent and expensive. The aroma is resplendent of fresh strawberries and reminiscent of picking strawberries in the summer (something my family would often do at various greenhouses, especially around Kalamazoo where my grandparents lived). In taste I’d give UV’s Strawberry top marks for offering a really fun, homogeneously blended strawberry lemonade type flavor. Since I’ve had it in a growler in the fridge for a day and a half, the texture isn’t as incredible as it might have been when filled (a barely noticable difference), it’s nevertheless that of a crisp earthy kombucha. If you’ve never tried kombucha, it’s similar to beer or wine in being brewed to refinement, but the lack of alcohol, fermentation and live cultures give it a style and body that place it a category all its own.

1. Aroma – 93
2. Taste – 88
3. Texture – 91
4. Spunk – 99
5. Price – 75
6. Availability – 90
7. Appearance – 96

Mean score – 90% satisfaction!

In a state with something like 200 different breweries, Unity Vibration and their cute Triple Goddess Tasting Room stands apart.