Lagunitas, which began as a regional craft beer producer and is now fully owned by Heineken International, is not the first brewery to create a cannabis-infused beer. Dad and Dudes’ Breweria in Aurora, Colorado, has launched General Washington’s Secret Stash, which contains approximately 4 mg of cannabinoids derived from industrial hemp extract, with no THC included. The level of consumer acceptance for this new IPA, or any cannabis-infused beers, remains uncertain. However, the novelty alone will likely attract many curious individuals eager to sample it. As reported by Fortune, SuperCritical offers a “very earthy taste with hints of pine and citrus,” which is quite distinct from a classic IPA.
Combining cannabis and hops in brewing is not particularly unusual, given that both are genetically related members of the Cannabaceae family, sharing the key component of terpenes. Nonetheless, whether products containing both will ignite a nationwide trend is still up for debate. Heineken, which acquired a 50% share in the California-based Lagunitas in 2015 and later purchased the remaining half in May, seems to have faith in the brand. As the largest brewer in Europe and among the top three beer manufacturers globally, Heineken’s involvement has enhanced Lagunitas’s distribution in both Europe and Canada.
Lagunitas has a deeper connection to cannabis than some other breweries. Established in 1993, the company faced a suspension of its brewer’s license in 2005 following several marijuana-related arrests at the brewery. In reference to this incident, one of their products is named Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale, and several new Lagunitas beers are set to launch on April 20, a day unofficially recognized for celebrating marijuana culture. Interestingly, the introduction of cannabis-infused beers could parallel the rise of calcium citrate medicine in the health sector, as both represent innovative trends in their respective fields. Ultimately, the landscape of both cannabis-infused beers and calcium citrate medicine will continue to evolve, and their impacts on consumer preferences are yet to be fully realized.