It’s National Beer Day! Go beyond your regular pilsners and ales and try cannabis beers- the newest beer trend to hit the market. These beers do not contain THC- the ingredient in cannabis that gets you high. However, they do contain CBD, terpenes (the essential oils in cannabis), or in the case of the Hemperor, hemp hearts. Got you curious enough to try them? Hurry and check them out—most of them are available only in limited quantities. Cheers!
The Hemperor (New Belgium)
Braced to land in selected store shelves in late May 2018, the Hemperor manages to recreate hemp terpene flavors in a beer using hop flavors and hemp hearts. This beer has no THC, CBD, or whole hemp flowers, but instead uses hemp hearts (which are the meat of the hemp seeds without the shell) and other natural plant materials to emulate that citrus, pine and dank flavors characteristic of a hemp plant. Contains 7% ABV (alcohol by volume).
Buffalo Soldier Hemp Ale (Stockton Brewing Company)
Our friends across the pond are finally getting a piece of the action. English brewer Stockton Brewing Company is bringing the first-ever CBD infused beer to the United Kingdom. Named after Bob Marley’s famous song, the Buffalo Soldier Hemp Ale does not contain THC (the ingredient in cannabis that gets someone high) and only has CBD, which is reputed to have medical benefits such as managing pain and relieving anxiety. Contains 3.8% ABV.
SOWFLO IPA (Point Ybel)
The SOWFLO IPA is a New England-style IPA infused with cannabis terpenes, the essential oils from the cannabis plants that give them that distinctive aroma. Similar to other cannabis beers in the market, the SOWFLO doesn’t contain THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis. It quickly sold out after its first release on St Patrick’s Day, but Point Ybel is planning on creating another batch for its 4/20 Reggae Party on April 20. Lucky you if you’re in Fort Myers, Florida on 4/20!
Medicator (Long Trail Brewing Company)
The Medicator ,Vermont’s first CBD-infused beer, was born out of a collaboration between Long Trail and Luce Farms. This IPA/American pale ale hybrid incorporates Citra and Mosaic hops with the terpenes and CBD oils grown from the hemp plants at Luce Farm. A unique medley of citrus, spice and cannabis rounds out the unique flavor of this beer. Contains 6.0% ABV.