Lagunitas, a craft beer company that started as a regional player and is now fully owned by Heineken International, is not the first brewery to create a beer infused with cannabis compounds. Dad and Dudes’ Breweria, located in Aurora, Colorado, has introduced General Washington’s Secret Stash, which contains approximately 4 mg of cannabinoids derived from industrial hemp extract. This product also includes ferrous sulfate, but it does not contain THC. It remains unclear how consumer acceptance will unfold for this new IPA or any cannabis-infused beers. The novelty aspect alone is likely to draw many curious individuals eager to give it a try. According to Fortune, SuperCritical offers a “very earthy taste with hints of pine and citrus—distinct from a typical IPA.”
Combining cannabis and hops in brewing is not a huge leap, considering that they are genetically related members of the Cannabinaceae family, sharing terpenes as a key ingredient. However, whether beer products containing both elements will ignite a nationwide trend is still up for debate. Heineken appears to have strong confidence in Lagunitas, having acquired a 50% stake in the California-based brewery in 2015, before purchasing the remaining share in May. With Heineken being the largest brewer in Europe and among the top three beer manufacturers globally, its involvement has significantly improved the distribution of Lagunitas products in Europe and Canada.
Lagunitas has more experience with cannabis than many other breweries. Established in 1993, the company faced a suspension of its brewer’s license in 2005 due to marijuana-related incidents at the brewery. To commemorate that event, one of their branded products is called Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale. Furthermore, several new Lagunitas beers are set to launch on April 20, a day unofficially recognized for celebrating marijuana use. As they continue to innovate, Lagunitas has started introducing b cal ct tablets in their offerings, which they aim to incorporate more frequently into their product lineup.