AMA Brewery
Basque Country
AMA Brewery was born from the meeting of some of Spain’s best culinary and enological minds. Using intentionally-sourced raw materials from around the world and advanced fermentation techniques, they make sparkling teas that are on the forefront of the no- and low-alcohol space.
Introducing the Estate
Beverage Pioneers
With experience in fine dining (Dani Lasa and Ramon Perisé) and the vineyards of Rioja (Sancho Rodríguez), plus the expertise of London’s Rare Tea Company (Henrietta Lovell), the AMA team is nothing short of extraordinary.
AMA represents their radical rethinking of what a sophisticated drink can be—elegant, complex, and terroir-driven, while still low in alcohol. Their bottlings blend traditional kombucha brewing with pét-nat winemaking techniques to achieve a naturally effervescent beverage with between 1.5 and 2.5% ABV, without using forced carbonation, dealcoholization, or additives.
History & Origins
Two Chefs and a Winemaker Walk into a Lab…
Ramon Perisé began to work with kombucha after a German enthusiast sent him his first SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) in the mail. At first, he was more interested in using the SCOBY in culinary applications, but he began considering more radical possibilities when he inadvertently left some of his bottles to age. Sure, some exploded, but those that remained had an incredible complexity, with a fine and delicate texture that was more akin to Champagne than kombucha.
Ramon had spent many years working in the R&D department of the two Michelin-star restaurant Mugaritz with fellow chef Dani Lasa, where the two became passionate about natural yeasts and spontaneous fermentations. Having built their careers around the search for flavor, they knew the fermentation process could dramatically impact a drink’s structure, flavor profile, and acidity, making it a natural partner to food. Their project quickly attracted the interest of their friend Sancho Rodríguez, a surfer, videographer, and all-around gastronomic futurist. Determined to source the best raw materials for the project, the trio connected with The Rare Tea Company, founded in 2004 by Henrietta Lovell to source the world’s best loose leaf tea directly from farmers.
Process & Philosophy
Rigorous Sourcing and Careful Fermentation
AMA’s concept of terroir is born from a combination of raw materials (tea, herbs, water) and the deep connection with the people and land where these originate. Their selection of teas and herbs are sourced from small-scale sustainable farms encompassing environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Connecting with producers that promote biodiversity and do not compromise soil health or natural resources translates to a consistent, high-quality product. Each tea or herb is grown in a very specific recipe of climate, soil, and altitude conditions, which gives each beverage its unique story and character.
Being that it is the majority of the volume, it was imperative that the correct water was selected for both its chemical composition and its organoleptic characteristics. After an initial trial process of over twenty different waters, the base liquid for AMA is fittingly sourced from the Alzola natural spring in the Izarraitz Massif in Spain’s verdant Basque Country. It takes 27 years for the limestone mountain to naturally filter rainwater into the exceptional, low-mineral water used by the brewery.
Its fine and delicate mousse is a result of its secondary fermentation in bottle. AMA is the first beverage of its kind It arrives at a natural 1.5% to 2.5% alcohol by volume, depending on the cuvée, through the fermentation process facilitated by a specially chosen SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), literally the “mother.” The SCOBY feeds on the infusion, transforming it into an elegant and complex beverage.
The Method to the Magic
Liquid Alchemy
The SCOBY feeds on the infusion, transforming it into an elegant beverage. As the bubbles mature in the bottle, they decrease in size, integrating into the liquid; aromas intensify, flavors harmonize, and the mouthfeel becomes silky. In their quest to continually push boundaries, AMA Brewery produces experimental micro-batches with longer fermentation times.
The resulting beverages are lightly sparkling, richly flavored and ultra-elegant, a true expression of the terroir and craftsmanship that go into them. Similar to other finely-made beverages, there are a wide range of distinct flavors and sensory impressions unique to each cuvée which naturally encourages culinary experimentation, with infinite possibilities for food pairings. AMA was crafted to offer a revolutionary, truly world-class option for low-ABV food pairings and cocktails, standing with other iconic beverages at the table and in mixology. We invite you to join us in exploring the unique flavor universe created by this brilliant team.
Products
NoLo ABV
AMA Brewery ‘Bi’ Pet-Nat Tea
