A new brew: Fort Collins' first kombucha taproom opens

Fort Collins has numerous taprooms dedicated to beer. Now, there’s one for a different fermented drink.

Turtle Mountain Fermentery opened the Choice City’s first kombucha taproom Thursday at 513 N. Link Lane, Unit C.

“It has always been a dream that we would have our own space,” said Turtle Mountain founder Natalie DiSanto. “Hopefully we can be a pit stop on a brewery tour.”

The new Turtle Mountain taproom features seven taps. Customers can order pints or flights of the fermented tea drink to enjoy at the bar.

Growlers and howlers can be filled to take home. The operation also sells fermented vegetables including kimchi and two sauerkraut flavors.

“The kombucha companies that came before us in Denver and Boulder really helped inspire us,” said Hannah DiSanto, Natalie’s sister and a Turtle Mountain co-owner.

Natalie first launched the Turtle Mountain company in Fort Collins in 2014. She previously brewed in commissary kitchens and sold products at various farmers markets in the area.

The operation also distributes bottles and kegs to various local coffee shops, restaurants and grocery stores. Turtle Mountain will continue selling products at six summer farmers markets.

It takes about three weeks to brew a batch of kombucha, which registers minute alcohol by volume levels. Natalie DiSanto first learned how to make the drink in her home state of Pennsylvania.

Turtle Mountain currently features yerba mate, apple pie, Hawaiian infusion, lavender grape, ginger, cranberry and rosemary kombucha flavors. More flavor experimentation is expected with the new taproom space.

“Making new flavors is my favorite part,” Natalie DiSanto said. “We want to be known for awesome and unique flavors.”

The Turtle Mountain taproom is open from 2-7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.