Cloud Mountain Kombucha, C-U’s kombucha bar, makes nationally award-winning brews of kombucha. Kombucha is fermented tea with less than 1% alcohol, so it can make a great alternative to boozy beverages. Brewed in Urbana, Cloud Mountain Kombucha’s brews travel only as far as other parts of Urbana plus Champaign and Thawville before we can enjoy it — and I love that local aspect.
Of course, the kombucha bar serves Cloud Mountain’s ‘booch on draft, but did you know that eight (soon-to-be nine) places in town offer it draft as well? We can sip the Urbana kombucha at 25 O’Clock Brewing, Artesia Brewing, Farren’s Pub, Punch! Bar & Lounge, The Space, Big Grove, Harvest Market‘s upstairs bar, and at Urbana Boulders, the rock-climbing gym? When The Gallery opens this fall in the former NOLA space, the art bar will also have Cloud Mountain’s ‘booch on tap.
Pictured at the top, that’s a pour of lemon balm ginger kombucha, a Kombucha Kup winner, currently on tap at Farren’s Pub. A lovely summer beverage, I enjoyed the kombucha’s bright lemon flavor on a warm afternoon.
This one was a draft pour of Cloud Mountain’s apple, lime, and mint kombucha at The Space. This refreshing flavor was brewed with fresh-pressed green apple juice infused with kaffir lime leaves and homegrown peppermint.
If you want to enjoy kombucha at home, find bottles of the Urbana kombucha at the Champaign farmers’ market, Pekara, Martinelli’s Market, Urbana Boulders, Walnut Street Tea Co‘s location at The Crossing, and the kombucha bar in Lincoln Square Mall.
Are you a fan of kombucha? What’s your favorite Cloud Mountain Kombucha flavor? I’ll go first: Autumn Mary. Made with Sola Gratia Farm‘s celery root, native autumn olive berries, and mixed peppercorns, this kombucha flavor tastes like a (non-alcoholic) Bloody Mary, and it’s so delicious. Share your favorite flavor (and where you like to drink it) in the comments of our socials.
Cloud Mountain Kombucha
300 S Broadway Ave
Urbana
W 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Th+F 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sa 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
