Let’s be honest. The consumption of cannabis and beer are some of the oldest traditions around. Although we have been dabbling with these plants for thousands of years, cannabis and hops have been mingling long before we humans found out they made us feel good.
Have you ever taken a swig of a skunky IPA and thought to yourself, “Geez, I bet this is exactly what liquid weed tastes like?” If so, your taste buds aren’t fooling you – and you’re not alone. Although Cannabis sativa (cannabis) and Humulus lupulus (hops) are two different plant species, they have a great deal in common, leading scientists to believe they are long lost relatives.
So, is Cannabis related to Hops? The answer is yes, and no.
While holding cannabis nugs in one hand, and hops in the other, it would be difficult to tell the two green piles apart with a novice eye. Just like the sticky-icky (cannabis), hops are also resinous, green flowers that come with a pungent smell you’ve experienced when opening a fresh jar of cannabis flower – or can of beer.
If it looks like a duck, and smells like a duck, it must be a duck; right?
Although the similarities between hops and cannabis go well beyond how they look and feel, scientists at the University of British Columbia confirmed 10-years ago the two species belong to the same Cannabinaceae family – suggesting Cannabis and Hops are long-lost cousins. It’s still too difficult to say for sure how they are exactly kin though.
If family, what’s the main similarity between the two plant species?
It turns out, the key similarity and ingredient in these two plants are terpenes. Terpenes, as you will learn in the next article found on pages 58 and 59, are a class of organic compounds produced by several types of flowers and trees, and are responsible for producing flavors and aromas in plants – especially in cannabis and hops. Some suggest they even play a role in the effects these plants produce for those who consume them in what we call the entourage effect.
During their studies, scientists at the University of British Columbia also found that cannabis and hops share over 30 similar terpenes. The main ones being limonene, myrcene, and pinene – which gives cannabis and beer citrusy, skunky, or earthy qualities.
Don’t take our word for it. If you’re of legal age, and would like to boost your entourage effectiveness – don’t forget to support your local grower, and brewer. Here’s some suggested local pairings from our staff while consuming Sugar House Selects flower and Shades brew. Remember, consume responsibly!!!
Beer Descriptions and Cannabis Pairing:
- Slick Rock Citrus IPA with SHS Sin Sintz
Slick City Citrus is an American Style IPA and a local favorite. It pours cloudy gold and has a smooth mouth feel. You’ll love the medley of sweet malts balanced by notes of citrus and medium bitterness derived from the hops and why we paired it with the craft Sin Mintz from Sugar House Selects. This earthy, but sweet smelling flower is a perfect afternoon pick me up. 7.2% abv
- Plum Berliner with SHS Orange Push Pop
Berliner Weisse is a regional variation on the white beer style from Northern Germany. Sour and tart, it’s usually served with syrup for more flavor and color. Shades break tradition and don’t add syrup. Instead, they add a considerable amount of Plum fruit and use a kettle sour technique to produce this delicious concoction. At Salt Baked City, our staff adds Orange Push Pop from Sugar House Selects to the mix for the ultimate fruit terpene pairing. Your tastebuds will dance along with your head after trying this duo. 5% abv.
- Blueberry Peach Cobbler with SHS Ice Cream Cake
6.5% abv; sour ale brewed with blueberry, peach, apricot, vanilla, graham cracker, and lactose. It tastes exactly how it sounds and why we thought it needed a side-serving of Sugar House Selects Ice Cream Cake. This might be the perfect way to end your evening, so be prepared to slow down.
