Symbiome Founders Launch Functional Non-Alcoholic Beer Brand Hopkind

From beauty to beer.

Adam Klausner and Mads Hansen, the team behind skincare brand Symbiome, alongside business partner Rob Hoppenheim, are gearing up to launch Hopkind, a functional non-alcoholic beer.

The brand was developed in collaboration with microbiome scientists Dr. Larry Weiss and Dr. Julia Durack. Weiss also played a key role in developing Symbiome's scientifically driven skincare formulations.

Hopkind was born from a simple premise: consumers should not have to choose between personal wellness and social connection. “For years, beverages have fallen into two camps: products that prioritize wellness and products that preserve ritual,” said Klausner. “We saw an opportunity to create something that delivers both, and tastes delicious.”

The company’s inaugural product line combines traditional brewing and fermentation with functional ingredients typically reserved for high-performance supplements, including Senactiv and L-citrulline to support cellular and vascular health. The first two offerings, an IPA and a lager, are custom-formulated to aid muscle recovery and hydration.

“Hopkind is less inspired by traditional beer culture than by the evolution of modern wellness,” said Hoppenheim. This crossover highlights a broader shift in the market, where founders and backers are expanding their horizons beyond traditional personal care—a trend also seen as some beauty investors are passing on prestige skincare to back multi-dimensional wellness concepts. “Consumers increasingly expect thoughtful formulations, functional benefits, and products that contribute positively to how they feel and perform,” Hoppenheim added.

While the products will initially launch direct-to-consumer on the brand's website, Hopkind is already mapping out its retail distribution strategy.

“It’s going to be very focused on the tri-state area. We’ll have distributors in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, and we’re also looking at all sorts of non-traditional doors,” said Klausner.

“Non-traditional retail, where people actually have the time to understand the story, is going to be critical for us,” Klausner explained. “If you’re in a loud, crowded bar, no one is going to stop and explain, ‘Here’s a functional non-alcoholic beverage.’”