North Park’s Newest Tasting Room Pours Organic Hard Kombucha

JuneShine, the newest tenant in North Park’s Brewery Igniter doesn’t make beer, but rather, it brews up organic hard kombucha, a boozy version of the popular wellness drink. While standard kombucha inherently contains a trace amount of alcohol, JuneShine has naturally boosted the ABV of its kombucha to six percent; it’s based on honey-fermented green tea instead of black tea, which serves to mellow out its acidic kick.

Founded by two USD grads — CEO Greg Serrao has a background in finance and healthcare while Creative Director Forrest Dein is a cinematographer — JuneShine replaces San Diego Brewing Company in the El Cajon Boulevard start-up hub. Its brewer, Josh Makler, previously worked at Boochcraft, Border X Brewing, Novo Brazil Brewing, and the company boasts a group of brand ambassadors that includes athletes as well as artists and musicians drawn to this healthier alcohol alternative that comes with good-for-you benefits like probiotics and antioxidants.

At its tasting room, which is open Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., there will be up to 10 kombucha flavors on tap. The rotating roster, based on seasonal organic produce, includes Carrot Orange, Beet and Berry, Mango Habanero, and Midnight Painkiller, a blend of pineapple, orange, coconut, and nutmeg that also contains activated charcoal. Its two core flavors, Original Honey Ginger and Blood Orange Mint, will be available in cans starting June 8 at the brewery and North County’s Seaside Market.