Mischief Brew and Pep Shake Up the Soda Game with The Doc
Adelaide’s Mischief Brew has never been afraid of fizz with attitude. This time they’ve partnered with Pep, Australia’s new single-origin black pepper disruptors, to create The Doc — a soda that hits with citrus, spice, and a cheeky cherry kick that winks at Dr Pepper while doing its own thing.
Slowpoke Lounge & Lookout
Pep only launched recently but has already carved out serious buzz. Their peppercorns come from Cambodia’s volcanic Memot region, delivering heat and aromatic depth that leave supermarket grinds in the dust. Earlier this year, they teamed up with GRUEL Club for Ground the World, a Melbourne dining event where chefs built entire courses around Pep’s black pepper. Guests even started the night with a pepper-infused cocktail. It was a statement that pepper can headline, not just garnish.
Enter Mischief Brew, the small-batch soda makers who build their drinks “ingredients first.” When Pep floated the idea of a pepper-driven soda, founders Dan and Scott were on board instantly. The result is The Doc, a blend of Cambodian peppercorns with thirteen fruits, herbs, roots and spices, stitched together with Mischief Brew’s knack for balance.
Pep’s trio of co-founders Myki, Royce and Josh saw the partnership as a chance to amplify their message. They’ve long admired Mischief’s collaborations with Saison Aperitifs and Mat’s Hot Shop and wanted their pepper in the mix. Now, it sits front and centre in a soda that refuses to be background noise.
The Doc launched online 10 September through Mischief Brew and Pep and is already popping up in stockists across Australia. Melbourne locals can catch the launch at Slowpoke Lounge & Lookout on Friday 19 September from 5pm.
Australian drinks culture is in the middle of a rethink. Craft beer, natural wine, and indie aperitifs have proved there’s a thirst for flavour with personality. The Doc takes that same ethos into soda. It’s fizzy, peppery, and layered in a way that makes you slow down and actually taste it.
This is more than a novelty flavour. It’s the coming together of two young brands that thrive on pushing boundaries. Mischief Brew brings fizz. Pep brings fire. Together they’ve bottled a drink that feels like an instant cult classic.
Adelaide’s Mischief Brew has never been afraid of fizz with attitude. This time they’ve partnered with Pep, Australia’s new single-origin black pepper disruptors, to create The Doc — a soda that hits with citrus, spice, and a cheeky cherry kick that winks at Dr Pepper while doing its own thing.
