Craft Beer Is Colorado’s Newest Cannabis-Infused Venture

While we’ve been reading up on marijuana laced wine, brewmasters in Denver have already moved on to the next weed thing: cannabis-infused craft beer.

Medical and recreational marijuana has been legal in Colorado for quite some time, and they’re continuing to blaze a trail with government-approved, cannabis-infused craft beer. General Washington’s Secret Stash IPA, made by Dad & Dude’s Breweria, is the first federally approved brew made with hemp, which comes from the stalk and stem of the cannabis sativa plant. Hemp oil doesn’t contain THC, the psychoactive property that makes you “high,” so all that’s left are legal cannabinoids, like CBD.

In plain English, this beer won’t make you high and drunk – but the brewers believe it can help with insomnia and upset stomachs. Co-owner Mason Hembree said that he had the idea to add CBD to his beers after a close family member started using the oil to treat epilepsy.

“Cannabinoids are a miracle compound, and I thought it would be a responsible choice to put them into beer, “ Hembree told Men’s Journal. “They are an antioxidant and neuroprotectant that have a lot of health benefits.” Responsible or not, drinking one of these seems a heck of a lot more fun than popping a melatonin when I can’t fall asleep.

The beer was originally dubbed Sativa IPA, but rebranded as a nod to the monologue in Dazed and Confused regarding President George Washington’s alleged love for hemp and marijuana. “He was a rebel leader, and this beer is a rebellious idea,” said Hembree.

So, what does this beer taste like? It’s an extra buzzy IPA with a sweet aftertaste – the CBD oil is pretty flavorless, which is why Hembree wants to continue adding it to other brews. Many see George Washington’s Secret Stash as a fleeting trend, but this is a quality craft beer that can really hold its own.

The Breweria started brewing cannabis-infused beers in 2010, like Dank IPA, but recently secured approval from the FDA – they’re the only brewery that has successfully done this. The Aurora, Colorado based brewery has had Secret Stash on tap (under the codename “Cannabeer”) for over a year, but they’re hoping to roll it out to liquor store shelves across the country. It’s been approved for distribution outside of Colorado, and Dad & Dude’s started a Kickstarter campaign to help with the launch. We can’t wait to try it!