New Fermentation Patent Shakes Up the Beverage Space

Honeymoon Brewery, LLC (dba Honeymoon Beverage Co), an emerging company in functional alcohol alternatives, was recently granted a patent for its proprietary brewing system, emphasizing alcoholic kombucha’s place in the market. The company’s founder, Ayla Bystrom-Williams, is among the 12.8% of women inventors listed on U.S. patents, marking a significant milestone in women-led innovation within the beverage industry.  

“I have an amazing team with me,” states Bystrom-Williams, who attributes the success to Co-Founder and Master Brewer, James Hill; and co-owners, Angelo Orona and Jesse Hiott, who also own Prime Lines, an industry-leading draft beer system company out of Albuquerque, NM.

This story captures the spirit of innovation and change; aligns with market shifts; and talks bold visionary leadership forged with passionate determination.  

Filed by Santa Fe IP, the patent was officially granted by the USPTO on July 15th, 2025, and covers a system that enhances flavor complexity, attempts to stabilize probiotic content, and creates a scalable brewing solution for functional alcoholic beverages, a breakthrough that addresses global shifts in younger consumers towards healthier drinking.

In a matter of a few years, Honeymoon reached the following industry benchmarks:

• 4 years as branch Whole Foods “bestseller”
• Silver Medal at the 2023 World Kombucha Awards (Barcelona)
• A $220K win in Miller Lite’s Tap the Future competition
• A 5-year R&D technical assistance with Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Featured in Outside Magazine, Sunset Magazine, Uproxx, Imbibe, The Guardian and Food and Wine as a wellness-forward brand.

Honeymoon first gained national recognition in 2016, when it won the Miller Lite Tap the Future competition, securing $200,000 grand prize after impressing judges, including Daymond John from ABC’s Shark Tank, with its innovative approach to probiotic alcoholic beverages.  This victory helped propel Honeymoon’s growth, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and premium craftsmanship.

“This patent isn’t just a technical win, it’s a signal that women can lead, invent, and reshape entire industries,” said Bystrom-Williams. “We’re building a beverage category that’s as bold and uncompromising as the people who drink it.”

A Market Ready to Be Rewritten

With the global kombucha market projected to exceed $6 billion by 2028, alcoholic kombucha is emerging as a premium choice for health-conscious consumers seeking complexity, probiotic benefits, and elevated craft. Honeymoon is uniquely positioned to meet this demand and lead it.

Licensing Now Open

With patent approval in hand, Honeymoon is actively seeking licensing partners across the U.S. and internationally to bring its award-winning system to new shelves and audiences.

About Honeymoon Beverage Mo Co.

Founded in Santa Fe, NM, Honeymoon crafts premium alcoholic kombucha that blends fermentation science with artisanal brewing. Known for its award-winning flavor and category-defining innovation, Honeymoon is on a mission to elevate what a functional alcohol beverage can be.