Craft brewing is something that Richmond is well known for–okay, let’s admit it, it’s the epicenter of brewing culture in VA, and local Brett Patrick Nobile, owner of
Craft brewing is something that Richmond is well known for–okay, let’s admit it, it’s the epicenter of brewing culture in VA, and local Brett Patrick Nobile, owner of Ninja Kombucha Brewing Co., has been home brewing an equally delicious (and probbaly more healthy) delicacy for our area to enjoy.
Ninja Kombucha Brewing Co. looks to be one of the first in our area to introduce kombucha culture after presenting at Feast RVA, the Gather Makers’ Series, and participating in the Fire Flour and Fork Festival in their first season. Ninja Kombucha Brewing Co., established just last year, is steadily climbing and making appearances at local farmers markets and bazaars.
“I started the company after I cut beer out of my diet and started drinking a ton of kombucha,” Nobile said. “After awhile I couldn’t afford to keep buying kombucha because it’s so expensive so I started brewing. I’ve been home brewing beer for 8 years so a lot of the techniques transferred over easily.”
The process of brewing kombucha, an all natural fermented tea-like drink, is just as tedious as home brewing craft beers. The integral components behind Kombucha, a “symbiotic ‘colony’ of bacteria and yeast” or SCOBY, is considered to have probiotic health benefits that includes improved digestion and increased energy.
None of this is proven, but if you’ve ever had it, you know something that tastes so strong has to be good for you.
But this is one way Ninja Kombucha stands out – it actually tastes good.
Nobile has created a paradigm of flavors for his home-brewed kombucha that includes asian-inspired signatures (hence the name Ninja) that are available at different locations throughout the city like: Neishin (chai tea, asian pear, vanilla) , Shinobi (lemon, ginger, basil, Yerba mate, Sencha green tea) and, Zengosaku (turmeric, cinnamon, clove, ginger).
With health awareness and wellness becoming a crucial part of society nowadays, Ninja Kombucha Brewing Co’s appearance in our city arrived in a timely manner, but Nobile and Co are just as committed to local maker-culture as he is committed to brewing kombucha.
“Our goal is to serve Richmond as we want to stay small and collaborate and support other local artisans,” Nobile said, the next step for Ninja’s home brew base is setting up a small brewery in the Northside.
“We found a warehouse and we’re working on negotiating a lease for part of a co-operative space that will be coming together soon. It’s called Create Space and there are a number of artists and small start ups/local business that are going to work together to renovate and revamp this old metal working facility.”
As our community continues to respect the thriving businesses that are held by local makers, Nobile and Ninja Kombucha Brewing Co is introducing yet another form of artistry for our city to embrace and flourish upon.
Nobile seems to be concocting new flavors as the seasons change so stay updated and keep an eye out for NInja Kombucha Brewing Co.
Try to make it out to Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream every first and third Tuesdays as those nights are Kombucha nights with Rattan DJ!
