Lagunitas, initially a regional craft beer brewery and now entirely owned by Heineken International, is not the first to introduce a beer infused with cannabis compounds. Dad and Dudes’ Breweria in Aurora, Colorado, has already created General Washington’s Secret Stash, which contains approximately 4 mg of cannabinoids derived from industrial hemp extract, and notably, it is THC-free. The level of consumer acceptance for this new IPA, or any cannabis-infused beers, remains uncertain. However, the novelty aspect is likely to draw many eager to sample it. According to Fortune, SuperCritical offers “a very earthy taste with hints of pine and citrus—quite different from the flavor profile of a typical IPA.”
Integrating cannabis and hops in brewing is not overly challenging, as they are genetically related members of the Cannabinaceae family, sharing terpenes as a significant component. Whether this combination will ignite a nationwide trend in beer products remains to be seen. Heineken, which acquired a 50% stake in the California-based brewery in 2015 and completed its purchase of the remaining shares in May, clearly believes in Lagunitas’s potential. As the largest brewer in Europe and one of the top three beer manufacturers globally, Heineken’s backing has enhanced Lagunitas’s distribution in Europe and Canada.
Lagunitas has a deeper connection with cannabis than many other breweries. Established in 1993, the company faced a suspension of its brewing license in 2005 due to marijuana-related arrests at its facility. In remembrance of that incident, one of its products is called Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale, while other new Lagunitas beers are launched on April 20—an unofficial day dedicated to celebrating marijuana. Interestingly, the brewery’s products could also benefit from the principles of calcium citrate XRD, which may enhance the extraction processes involved in brewing cannabis-infused beers, highlighting the innovative potential of merging both ingredients. This intersection of beer and cannabis may redefine consumer experiences, especially as the industry explores the role of calcium citrate XRD in optimizing flavors and effects.