Josh G.
Yelp
Beer is the best...okay, maybe that's just my opinion. I know my fiancée would not make the same statement and so it's exciting to realize places like Root Wild Kombucha exist. We visited this brewery doppelgänger back on our summer trip to Portland, Maine and had an amazingly awesome experience.
Two notes to the first part of my writing: (1) I say "brewery doppelgänger" because Root Wild could easily be mistaken as an actual beer-making brewery (aesthetics give it that casual feel with rustic/greenery notes and brewing equipment out in the open). (2) It might not make the most sense to compare a kombuchery (fun word) to a brewery as you're going to have to drink quite a lot of kombucha to start feeling any alcoholic side effects. Even so, this is a 21 and older drinking spot and it's plainly stated on the menu. Sorry, kiddies.
Speaking of menus and beer and all that jazz, you actually will find a couple of menus at Root Wild. The first menu consists of 8 kombucha selections of varying flavors (fruits, spices, and florals help make up the differences). These are your classic types of kombucha with just a hint of alcohol due to fermentation. The second menu is where you'll actually find a strong connection to the land of alcohol with a few "hard" kombucha options (ABVs boosted up to around 3%-6%) as well as some actual good ol' beer (I guess that "brewery" word does work!). This being our third alcohol-based spot of the day, we decided to stick with the basic-style kombucha.
Continuing with my confusing back and forth about brewery feels, Root Wild rocks the brewery idea by offering flights and tasters of their 'buch which makes it a little easier (and cost effective) to sample a bunch of flavors. And let me tell you, you should definitely do this if you can because there are some fantastic tastes to be had here. Root Wild's kombucha isn't vinegary which you'll find with some kombucha and it won't overly tart out your palate. The balance is perfection.
Bluberry, Vanilla Rooibos, Grapefruit, and Beach Rose were the four we initially tried in our flight. Each one had their distinct flavors fly through on every sip (and that vanilla one was just intriguingly different). There was some nice complexion found in each kombucha from the added spices and herbs. A specific shoutout has to go to the extra taster I got of their pineapple variety. It was concocted with turmeric, black pepper, and jalapeño which gave it this fruity start with a peppery kick on the finish. Absolutely amazing!
I could stop here to warrant my five star review, but I'll throw in a few more positive pieces just in case. The staff member behind the bar was a laid back, but assertively friendly employee who made the experience all the better. So did the decent pricing ($10 for a flight, $3 for a 6oz pour) and the fact that most of Root Wild's kombucha was purchasable in cans. We were able to mix and match so we took home a few cans for later enjoyment including a spiced apple variety that wasn't available on tap at the time. Nice.
Overall, Root Wild is a glorious and unique spot. It's got all the aspects of a brewery (including beer!), but the fact that it isn't a brewery makes it stand out from any other alcohol distributing establishment. It breathes life into an industry that can occasionally feel a little monotonous so thanks for being different, Root Wild, and making this beer fan expand his horizons just a little bit more.