Before the pandemic, it seemed that being a hyper local craft brand was a great idea. Then, the doors of all our favorite local retailers suddenly closed and the only places folks really frequented were grocery stores. This put our little kombucha business in quite a scary position. It became clear that we needed a better plan, one where we could reach more people, regardless of pandemic pressures.

Cans, it only made sense, especially living in a beach town. We invested in a Twin Monkeys Gunnison canning line, a huge expense for our tiny company. We chose our two flagships non alcoholic flavors that we had previously been bottling with a manual 4 head filler (Blueberry Lavender and Triple Berry Ginger), and 3 hard kombuchas (Lavender Hops, Raspberry Lemonade, and Pineapple Hops) to can. Local branding powerhouse, Creature Theory designed our labels.

Panacea Hard Kombucha cans designed by Creature Theory — Panacea in cans, the perfect choice for the beach or boat

We christened the canning line on February 18th. After a few little hiccups, we successfully filled 4 skus of cans, in less time than it would have taken to label the glass bottles using our old system. Wow! This machine is going to change our lives!

Alex Urquhart, head brewer, Panacea Brewing Company

Now that we’ve got the horsepower, it’s time to hit the streets! If you love Panacea, please ask all your local retailers to start carrying our new cans.

Wholesale inquiries can be made to:

For three years, we served as a kombucha powerhouse. Now, our newly added health-conscious kitchen is Wilmington’s hotspot for vegan and vegetarian fare, with plenty of gluten-free options. However, our unique menu appeals to a wide variety of palettes. Utilizing local, organic ingredients and flavorings whenever possible, we craft the freshest and healthiest farm-to-bottle beverages, elixirs, and plates. If you haven’t had the chance to stop by and check us out, here is a quick rundown of our menu and all things Panacea!

Upon first entering the space, you’ll notice our eclectic design with an expansive mural above the bar, brought to life by Erica Nelson of Mural Modern, while typography was done by Elena Trofimchuk. Yet another standout feature is a VW bus front that hangs above the taproom’s lounge area. When found in Anderson, South Carolina, the piece was almost entirely in a deteriorated state, with the exception of the face of the bus. So, we made the decision to cut the front end off, refurbish it, and incorporate it into Panacea’s new home. Scattered throughout the remainder of the space are posters, tickets, and more authentic music memorabilia. We have an additional retail section dedicated to our own merchandise offerings, as well as products and crafts from other local, small businesses. We are so thankful for Kelly Waters, who carefully curated the interior design of our new space!

As appetizers, we offer a pierogi selection, lumpia, a fermented flight board, and house hummus. Our pierogies are handmade and hand stuffed, and come with a side of sauerkraut and local, cashew cream from Kind Cultures. The lumpia is created with house-mix veat, kimchi, with sweet chili sauce and orange agave sesame sauce. Our fermented flight board includes a rotating variety of house-fermented vegetables, with fresh pita or tortilla chips. Similar to the flight board, our house hummus features a rotating selection with fresh vegetables and the option of pita bread or tortilla chips.

We offer three different salad options, with the opportunity to top them off with smoked or marinated tofu, seitan, or grilled tempeh. Customers are able to choose between the Santa Fe, Pan-Asian Brown Rice, or the Panacea Super Greens and Grains salad. The Super Greens and Grains has been by far the most-loved salad option. It comprises of collard kale and rainbow chard mix with quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, and fresh tomatoes, and is tossed with Honeybush Elderberry vinaigrette dressing. The best part? All of our dressings are house-made. We offer ranch, cilantro lime vinaigrette, sesame lemongrass vinaigrette, honeybush elderberry vinaigrette, russian, and peanut coconut.

Our handhelds have been incredibly popular as well. Of the options, the Nashville HOT Fried Cauliflower, House Blended Burger, and Corned Seitan Reuben have been the most popular. Our kitchen offerings are standout thanks to our talented chefs and our in-house fresh baked bread program, as well as our choice to source ingredients from local farmer friends. A full kids menu is available for children ten and under, with a selection of chicky nuggets, veggie dogs, plant-based sliders, and happy rice and veggies to choose from.

With ten taps dedicated to Wilmington craft beers, and a colorful kombucha cocktail selection, even our alcoholic menu stands out. Our craft beer lineup includes of New Anthem, Good Hops, Wrightsville Beach, Broomtail, Bill’s Brewing, Waterline, Flying Machine, Wilmington Brewing, and our very own kombucha beers! Our kombucha cocktail options offer a twist on classic drinks like mules, mojitos, and margaritas. Our most popular mixed drink has been the ‘Dirty Hippie’; it is a blend of kombucha, Dr. Stoner’s herbal vodka, hibiscus simple syrup, with a hemp garnish.

Visit our taproom and kitchen to explore our selection of seasonal kombuchas, gluten-free kombucha beers, kombucha cocktails, Wilmington craft beers, elixirs, and the best vegan and vegetarian bites Wilmington has to offer! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for our daily specials.