Maximum Yield Cannabis USA April/May 2018 | Page 70

enjoy
However, as of early 2018, there are still only a hand-
ful of breweries in the cannabis or hemp beer game,
and none of the large, commercial breweries cur-
rently sell cannabis beer across the country. Also,
those small breweries that do produce infused beers
aren’t continuously producing these products; most
released their respective brews for limited times
and in limited markets. They’re likely still assessing
feedback, reviewing sales numbers, and carefully
watching the news to decide their next moves. Some
breweries print cannabis leaves on their labels or
give their beers gimmicky names using cannabis
slang but don’t brew with the real stuff.
“As of early 2018, there are still
only a handful of breweries in the
cannabis or hemp beer game.”
DIY
There are almost as many ways to add cannabis to your
homebrew as there are brewers and beer recipes. One
of the easiest ways is just to include cannabis in
the brewing process (there are recipes online).
Depending on the quality of your stash and
personal tastes, you’ll need approximately 21
grams of marijuana to brew about two cases
worth of bottled beer. Cannahoney, honey
that has been infused with cannabis buds or
pollinated with cannabis pollen, can be used as
well. Substitute it in any craft beer recipe that calls
for honey, such as a honey brown lager. You can also
add a tincture to your brew. To make the tincture, soak
the strain of your choice in a clear alcohol that is at
least 90 proof (vodka and Everclear are popular choices).
Keep in a dark area, shaking it every so often. After two
weeks to a couple months, strain the soaked buds out
of the liquid infusion, which can then be added to your
batch. Remember, however, homebrewed beers that
contain THC should be consumed with care. As the effects
take longer to arrive, inexperienced consumers can drink
more than they should. So, it’s a good idea to first try a
DIY cannabis brew with trusted friends, just in case.
The Future of Cannabis Beer
With the political climate in the United States, it
is unclear whether the cannabis beer market is
experiencing a false start, is a flash in the pan,
or is just in its infancy and other brewers will
jump on board. Conversely, Canada’s likely
future legalization of recreational cannabis
could mean creative Canadian entrepreneurs
have the opportunity to develop the cannabis
beer market themselves. What is clear, however,
is that if this is a viable product and market, then
someone’s got to be the leader.
70
grow. heal. learn. enjoy.
myhydrolife.com