Heineken-owned Lagunitas Brewing Company--the 9th-largest brewery in the United States in 2016--announced this week that it was partnering with Santa Rosa, California-based CannaCraft Inc. (a cannabis-extract manufacturing facility that has made a name for itself in the newly legalized industry despite being raided by police last year) to brew and release a beer called SuperCritical Ale, which was made with terpenes, or aromatic compounds of essential oils that are extracted from some plants, including cannabis.
Yes, you read that right - Lagunitas brewed and will distribute (though available only in select California locations and only for a limited time) a beer brewed with pot. Though (unfortunately) the beer doesn't contain any THC - the compound in marijuana that causes psychoactive effects (i.e. gets you high). According to the LA Times,
As beer drinkers want to explore the newest versions of hoppy India Pale Ales, (Lagunitas brewer Jeremy) Marshall said terpenes can play a valuable role in creating unique aromas and mouthfeels to a drink.
For SuperCritical... terpenes from the Blue Dream and Girl Scout Cookie cannabis strains, ...were combined with seven different hop strains. The beer registers 6.6% alcohol by volume.
However, the most interesting part of collaboration to me was that, in return, Lagunitas assisted CannaCraft in developing new vaping products for its AbsoluteXtracts line, which do contain THC. Again, the LA Times:
CannaCraft included terpenes that were derived from hops in the new products, with Lagunitas brewers providing guidance on obtaining a beer-like aroma for the high-inducing weed.
So, what's the verdict? Are you looking forward to weed-based beer? Would you try it? Comment below.
It's an interesting idea. A lot worse experiments are going on in this world. The history of cannabis is quite interesting. I don't know if I am looking forward to it, but I would probably try it...as long as it is organic and all natural. LOL
The problem for me is that I feel like it should at least have CBD oil added. I don't know as much about the science as it probably sounds like I do, but I know then at least there'd be health benefits. As it is right now, it just seems kind of gimmicky. Especially because the terpenes will just taste like hops.
The beer-flavored marijuana oil that Lagunitas did for CannaCraft honestly sounds way more interesting/original!
Yeah, you gotta watch against gimmicky. I don't know much about it but it seems open dialogue is always a good thing.
Whoa... That would be a bomb. I see a market for that. Maybe with POTCOIN 😀
Sounds like a nice brew, being an Aussie I would love to give it a go!