Hard kombucha is the star at a new bar opening soon in Denver

Both wine and beer drinkers have dedicated bars where they can indulge in their preferred libations. Soon, there will be another kind of specialty watering hole in Denver that serves hard kombucha, both on its own and in mixed drinks.

Blind Tiger kombucha bar is expected to make its debut at the Backyard on Blake complex, 3040 Blake St., in the River North Art District on Dec. 3, before celebrating a grand opening on Dec. 10. Owner Anna Zesbaugh is also the founder and CEO of Hooch Booch, a line of ready-to-drink hard kombucha cocktails that will serve as the hallmark for the new drinkery.

Hooch Booch was a project born out of the COVID-19 pandemic. After Zesbaugh was furloughed from her job in corporate event planning, she went to visit her sister in San Diego where boozy kombucha and jun, which is similar, have garnered a following. That inspired Zesbaugh to buy a homebrew kit and learn how to make kombucha, an acidic, fermented tea, with an added kick.

Zesbaugh worked with a local brewery to formulate the recipes for four core flavors – Lizard Lounge, The Bee’s Knees, Clover Club and Old Fashioned, each clocking in at 8.5% ABV. In late November, an Espresso Martini joined the lineup. Rocky Mountain Cultures in Gypsum now contract-brews Hooch Booch, which is available in 12- and 16-ounce cans in stores in Colorado and Minnesota, as well as select bars like the Grizzly Rose.

The themes of both the beverage line and the bar harken back to the 1920s Prohibition era when taverns serving booze illegally would coyly let passersby know by putting stuffed animals, like tigers, in the windows. These speakeasies were known as blind tigers.

Denver experienced its own mini-Prohibition in the early days of the pandemic, which also inspired Zesbaugh. In March 2020, Mayor Michael Hancock said liquor stores and marijuana dispensaries would not be considered essential businesses and would be forced to close during a shelter-in-place order, causing a rush on stores. He walked back that decision just hours later.

“The original reason why I started Hooch Booch was to bring people together over beverages when we were all otherwise divided,” Zesbaugh said. “Having a space that we can bring in the community together and do events, that’s what I love to do.”

There are several bars and breweries throughout the U.S. called Blind Tiger, but Denver’s will be distinct for its focus on hard kombucha. Zesbaugh envisions the space as a “day-to-evening lounge” that serves mocktails in the afternoon and transitions to a swanky, speakeasy vibe at night.

Drinkers can try all of Hooch Booch’s flavors as-is or they’ll have the option to try them as mixed drinks with additional spirits. The bar will also serve local craft beer, wine and other cocktails sans kombucha. Zesbaugh plans to serve a limited menu of snack foods, such as meat and cheese plates and other shareable items.

Blind Tiger’s 1,323-square-foot space will have something of a pop-up feel throughout the rest of the year, Zesbaugh said, as she anticipates closing in January to do a full build-out and reopening in the spring. In 2023, Hooch Booch will also expand its lineup to include some sparkling, non-alcoholic beverages.

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