CONSUMPTION

Terpene-Infused Beer: What Craft Beer and Cannabis Have in Common

Hops and weed are cousins, and craft brewers are spiking their beer with the same terpenes that make your buds smell so good.

BY CosechaLibre Editorial3 MIN READ

A glass of craft beer next to cannabis buds

🍺 Beer and cannabis: the terpene connection 🌱 What beer and cannabis have in common is terpenes: the aromatic compounds that give hops and buds their smell and flavor (hops and cannabis are even botanical cousins, both in the Cannabaceae family). Terpenes are found across practically all plant life, where they add aroma, taste and even a bit of protection for the plant. In recent years, researchers around the world have started looking at these isoprene-based hydrocarbons for possible health effects, with early studies pointing at everything from pain relief to calming, anti-anxiety properties. 🌱 These days, terpene extraction has been dialed in several different ways, and everyone from product makers to celebrity chefs is experimenting with terpene infusions. Craft brewers are no exception: terpene-infused beers are a growing trend and pulling in a lot of curious drinkers. 🌱 Breweries usually buy terpenes in bulk from companies that either extract them from cannabis or hemp, or synthesize them in a lab to mimic the ones found in weed. The process starts with test batches to find the right terpene-to-beer ratio; the most common dose today is 0.01-0.02% weight per volume (w/v) of terpenes to beer. 🌱 Terpenes don't dissolve in water, so brewers handle them one of two ways. Breweries that are fine with solvents dissolve their terpenes in food-grade ethanol first. Brewers who'd rather skip solvents usually add the terpenes straight into the bittered wort before pitching the yeast. The downside of that second method is that some terpenes get lost during fermentation, but for anyone who wants to stay solvent-free, it's generally considered a trade-off worth making. Hops and cannabis-terpene beer

🌱 Terpenes go in before the beer is carbonated. Here are three of the terpenes brewers use most, and why: 💜 Myrcene gives beer subtle herbal, resinous flavor notes, with a damp, spicy edge on the nose. It's also studied as a muscle relaxant, and some research points to possible benefits for mood and inflammation. 💛 Limonene brings bright citrus flavor to beer, with a peppery hint in the aroma. It's a known antioxidant, and early research suggests it may have calming, anti-anxiety effects. 💚 Pinene adds an invigorating pine-and-mint quality to the flavor, with complex woody notes in the aroma. It's best known for its potential as a bronchodilator, and it's being studied for chronic pain issues like arthritis. ❗️ In Argentina? Try beer brewed with cannabis terpenes by clicking here Made it this far and don't want any trouble traveling with your cannabis in Argentina? You might like this: [embed]https://www.cosechalibre.com/como-sacar-un-permiso-para-cultivar-por-alguien-que-lo-hizo/[/embed]