Is There Or Was There Such A Thing As Cannabis Beer?

2009.04.03

Sure, it sounds like slang, but it’s actually a play on words. Everyone’s heard their friend say, “Wanna Cannabeer”, but most wouldn’t ever guess that there is actually a thing called Cannabis Beer, what I have nicknamed “Cannabeer”.

That’s right, beer made from Cannabis actually exists, and it’s very potent stuff, that itself has been called “Brain Death”. Actually, cannabis and hops are related, they belong to the family Cannabinacea, and both species have male and female plants that have secretions that contain narcotic properties.

There are brew masters who experimented with making the stuff, trying different ways and different recipes. Of course in the making of beer over the centuries, many different methods and ingredients were tried, including opium, wormwood, and even some varieties of poisonous berries, but the use of marijuana in beer has only recently been noted, and that was in the 1960’s. Apparently, they used cannibanol oil, distilled it and added it to the beer base. It was said that just two bottles would produce a warp effect on the fabric of time and space, or was it because they didn’t have any breakfast?

Rather than use the term hash as an ingredient, for fear of unwanted attention, the term “special hops” was used. There were many ways in which the “special hops” were utilized, such as not adding the blossoms until after a ten-day fermentation period, when they were then allowed to stay for two weeks. Of course, there are many variations, which vary according to personal taste and experimentation, giving either the beer a resinous aftertaste, or a more leafy quality. Or perhaps giving the beer a noticeable but not unpleasant taste, then; there is the mellow kind, etc
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All of this is a wonderful way for people to “stick it to the man”, and thrive in the underground glory of doing something against a law that should have been repealed, in what feels like centuries ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, but remember, marijuana is still illegal, and people will continue to be caught, fined and imprisoned for breaking this law. Many have a devil may care attitude to such laws, because they enjoy the feeling of being a rebel in what they view as a just cause. They have no problems sitting a can of cannabis beer amongst their pipes, bongs and bubble bags.

It is quite ridiculous to imagine that so much taxpayer money is being used to pursue what is considered a harmless substance, marijuana. It has proven medical effects for patients with Cancer, Glaucoma or HIV, but even that has met with old school opposition.

Many contend that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, which itself was banned decades ago, only to discover a burgeoning illegal business that made Al Capone an underworld king.

Therefore, no matter what happens, people will explore new ways to use pot, or cannabis, this article just happens to be about the wonderful properties of it in beer. So the next time you hear about a beer that has “special hops” in it, just for fun, ask, “Cannabeer anyone”?