Buzz
Weed-infused sodas and fruity drinks have long been a part of the recreational market, often packed with bold flavors that hide the distinctive taste of cannabis. However, with the advent of flavorless and strain-specific cannabis infusions, beverage creators now have the ability to craft more nuanced products—and thanks to exciting technological innovations, even wine and beer are now being infused with cannabis.
In the past, cannabis beverages were dominated by strong flavors that helped mask the cannabis taste. But now, with the rise of flavorless and strain-specific cannabis infusions, manufacturers can be more subtle with their approach. And thanks to impressive advancements in technology, even wine and beer are making their way into the world of cannabis-infused drinks.
The slow pace of federal legalization and regulatory hurdles from state cannabis agencies mean combining alcohol and cannabis in one product is still off-limits (though that hasn't stopped DIY enthusiasts). Instead, these drinks aim to replicate the experience of traditional alcoholic beverages, but with cannabis as the primary intoxicating agent.
Nonalcoholic beers and wines have long been criticized as unappealing or unsatisfactory, but thanks to innovations in the industry, that perception is beginning to shift. This opens up opportunities for a new category of beverages aimed at those who enjoy the effects of cannabis and appreciate the rich flavors and intricacies of wine and spirits. Surprisingly, these alcohol-free, cannabinoid-infused drinks can closely replicate the taste of their alcoholic counterparts.
We spoke with the experts behind cannabis 'beer' and 'wine' to learn more about the process, so you can be better informed before you take a sip (and hopefully enjoy the experience).
The process of crafting 'weed wine'.
Jamie Evans, a certified wine specialist known as 'the Herb Somm,' is a beverage expert from the Bay Area with over a decade of experience in the wine industry and several cookbooks to her name. She has sought to merge the worlds of weed and wine from Northern California, creating the cannabis-infused, wine-like drink Herbacée Sparkling Rosier, which resembles a French Rosé.
Evans explains to Mytour that the creation of weed wines starts with the de-alcoholization of real wine. 'This process is challenging because it removes some of the wine’s natural aromas and flavors,' she explains. 'To achieve a wine-like experience, those aromas and flavors must be reintroduced, which can be tricky, especially when trying to replicate the primary, secondary, and tertiary aromas and flavors found in traditional wine.'
To maintain the wine-inspired, well-balanced flavor, rather than using a weed-flavored additive (known in the industry as an emulsion), Evans and others in the alcohol-inspired beverage space opt for flavorless cannabis concentrates. These concentrates isolate and collect THC through the distillation process.
Although many cannabis drinks highlight the flavor of cannabis, it would be odd for a Provence-style 'rosé' to taste like marijuana. Evans crafted this beverage to ensure the wine influence takes center stage. 'For beginners, this drink is easy to approach, offering a mild euphoric effect similar to enjoying a glass of traditional wine or beer,' she says. 'For more seasoned cannabis users, Herbacée is also sessionable, meaning you can enjoy more than one, with a potency tailored to your preference.'
The flavor won’t be an exact match. While Herbacée tastes like wine, you’ll likely notice right away that it’s alcohol-free, thanks to the nuanced flavors Evans describes. 'Like traditional wine, you can pick out fruity and floral notes. You’ll also experience a bright acidity that mimics a wine-like sensation. If you enjoy wine but want to reduce alcohol, this product is made for you.'
The process of making 'weed beer'.
Beer is beloved by billions worldwide, and the shared aromatic qualities of cannabis and hops make them natural companions in flavor. However, brewers can’t simply toss cannabis into the mix and expect THC to blend with alcohol—at least, not for now.
Brewmaster Keith Villa, PhD, the creator of Blue Moon beer and more recently Ceria Infused beer, recognized that the demand for a well-crafted, nonalcoholic beer was not being met by others in the industry. He shared that the mission behind Ceria Infused beer was to create a flavorful craft beer regardless of its alcohol content. 'The challenge was developing a great-tasting, 0.0 percent alcohol beer,' he says. 'Many non-alcoholic beers fall short because they don’t really taste like beer. Some are too sweet, others are too watery.'
Villa points out that completely alcohol-free beer is different from the non-alcoholic (NA) beers you typically find in stores. 'Non-alcoholic (NA) beer still contains trace amounts of alcohol, while alcohol-free (AF) beer contains none at all,' he explains. This distinction is crucial when it comes to creating a truly alcohol-free infused beer.
Similar to Jamie Evans' approach with weed wine, Villa and his team intentionally opted for lower doses of THC in their creations. 'Grainwave is a Belgian White Ale microdosed with 5 mg of THC,' he mentions. 'Our Indiewave West Coast IPA features 10 mg of THC combined with 10 mg of CBD for a much more subtle, mellow buzz.'
The goal was to preserve beer’s gentle buzz, in contrast to the strong punch of alcohol in spirits. 'We believe in microdosing,' says Villa. 'By reducing the dose, consumers can enjoy multiple beers and still socialize effectively. The problem with high-dose cannabis drinks is that they often lead to what we call ‘couch lock’—you drink one and that’s it for the night.'
Currently, Villa is steering clear of weed-dominant flavors, as his focus is on perfecting the taste of a refreshing beer. 'Instead of using a specific cannabis strain, we rely on purified distillate from various strains,' he explains. 'We extract THC and CBD from buds and trim, ensuring we avoid creating a beer with a heavy cannabis taste or smell.'
The art and science of crafting infused drinks
Vertosa, a cannabis infusion technology company, collaborates with over 80 clients, including notable brands like Vita Coco, Pabst, and MXXN, to create cannabis additives for a variety of beverages. The innovative tech behind Vertosa’s process allows creators like Evans and Villa to shape this emerging market.
Benjamin Larson, CEO of Vertosa, explained the process to us during a brief tour of their Oakland lab, where a range of cannabis concentrates are transformed into emulsions that brands use in their drinks.
“Innovations in nanoemulsion technology—where oil droplets are broken down to an extremely tiny size and stabilized in water—have given rise to a new generation of fast-acting edibles, including infused drinks,” says Larson. “This development allows for quicker onset and higher absorption rates, which enables low-dose products to offer a more consistent and controllable experience, making them more effective for all kinds of consumers.” This means users feel the effects more quickly and for a longer period, mimicking the gradual effects of alcohol, rather than the intense hit from smoking a joint.
Larson believes this is key to attracting traditional alcohol drinkers to cannabis. “The beverage format is widely accepted, and it’s not only more socially acceptable but also more accessible for newcomers,” he says. “Sipping on an infused drink enables you to slowly adjust your dose and begin feeling the effects while still enjoying the experience.”
By utilizing ultrasonic probes, Vertosa transforms cannabis oil into a unique form of 'soap' that allows it to seamlessly blend with water-based products like beverages. Each drink undergoes testing to monitor factors such as potency degradation, oxidation, and other elements that could compromise the experience, as ensuring consistency remains a top priority for the development of cannabis technology today.
As technology continues to enhance our ability to personalize our drinks, it sparks exciting possibilities, particularly if federal legalization paves the way for products combining alcohol and cannabis. Until that day comes, adventurous individuals may want to explore non-alcoholic weed beers and wines, which offer a taste of what the future could hold.
