Did you know that most cannabis users also consume alcohol concurrently? Yep, over the past few decades, the number of people who use cannabis and drink alcohol has been steadily increasing across demographics. Now, there is little data on what exactly is the go-to alcoholic beverage for cannabis users, but I think there may be a new contender on the market. Silvermoon Brewing, in Bend, Oregon, recently released a terpene-infused beer that I think many stoners will enjoy—the Cross Joint: West Coast IPA with Terpenes.
A Beer with Terpenes?
You’re probably wondering how a beer can have terpenes if that’s a component of plants, and that’s a fair question. Terpenes are components that can be extracted from plants in their essential oils, and they provide the aroma and scents to strains of cannabis. By extracting the aromas, smells, and flavors, they can be infused in things like cannabis and beer. Jordan Hunt, the head brewer for Silvermoon, sat down to chat with me and explained the science and work that went into creating this beer. Cannabis and hops are very similar, and so using terpenes in the beer works well. For the Cross Joint, the terpenes of Pineapple Express were used. Hunt first brewed this beer last year for the Oregrown HomeGrown Music Festival, held on 420 at Silvermoon.
The beer is made by infusing the terpenes during the brewing process. For this, Jordan used terpenes from Abstrax Tech. Abstrax Tech is a company that is focused on “unlocking the mysteries of cannabis.” They are focused on researching cannabis and developing good products, like their terpene extract blends and even terpene-infused rolling papers. During the brewing process, Jordan adds the terpenes when he is moving the beer from the fermenter to the bright tank. “It’s just like brewing a delicious IPA, but you’re adding more and more flavor”, Hunt shared.
This beer certainly doesn’t miss in terms of flavor. I typically would not have even looked at the beer because it is an IPA and I find them to be too bitter and heavy, but I figured I would at least give it a try. I was thoroughly surprised by how flavorful the beer was because it completely overtook the bitterness, making it a delicious and enjoyable beer to drink. Forewarning, though, IPAs are heavier beers, which can make people feel full relatively easily, so if you plan on enjoying this brew while also enjoying cannabis, know that you might get fuller faster than you thought and not eat as much due to munchies as you typically do.
Why Cannabis Lovers Should Try It
If you aren’t a beer drinker or aren’t an IPA lover, you might be wondering why I think you should try this beer. There are three reasons. Firstly, did you know that smelling cannabis before consuming can help enhance the effects and make them more potent? And remember how terpenes are the scents and aromas of cannabis? Think about it. If you enjoy a Cross Joint before enjoying your cannabis, you can help heighten the experience because you are activating your cannabinoid receptors. Second, by adding the beer to your experience, you are now bringing another sense into the mix. Rather than just the more physical effects from cannabis that most people traditionally experience, you are letting your sense of smell and taste join the fun. Paired with the right visual and/or aural stimulation, you can involve all five senses in your session. And lastly, the ability to play connoisseur. Suppose you are someone with decent knowledge of terpenes and cannabis strains. In that case, you can flex on your friends by preparing a tasting experience where you match the beer with strains that have similar or complementary terpenes for a more detailed and specialized experience. If you enjoy being adventurous with your strains or in the kitchen, testing your hand at recognizing and pairing terpenes and flavors can be a fun opportunity for breaking up your typical smoking routine.
Now, Silvermoon isn’t the first brewery to infuse terpenes; a California brewery, as well as 10 Barrel Brewing in Bend, both had terpene-infused beers, but Silvermoon is the first to actually can the beer and make it available for at-home consumption while also making it a mainstay, year-round beer. You can purchase the Cross Joint at Fred Meyer locations and at the Silvermoon Pub.
