In the last few years, CBD has gone from obscure cannabinoid to wellness-world darling, turning up in everything from skincare serums to sparkling water. And now, it’s landed in an unexpected place: your pint glass. But as homebrewers or craft breweries jump on the CBD bandwagon, a pressing question emerges – is CBD-infused beer just a fleeting novelty, or could it shape the future of brewing?
What’s Driving the CBD Beer Craze?
Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is a non-psychoactive substance extracted from cannabis or hemp plants. Unlike THC, the compound responsible for the “high,” CBD doesn’t produce intoxicating effects. Supporters say it may help relieve anxiety, reduce inflammation, and support better sleep.
For brewers, CBD’s appeal lies not only in its wellness halo but also in the fact that it pairs naturally with beer’s social, relaxing identity. As the wellness beverage market surges – projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2025 according to McKinsey & Company – brewers see CBD as a ticket to tap into new, health-conscious audiences without alienating traditional beer lovers.
Brewing With CBD: Innovation Meets Challenge
Adding CBD to beer is no easier than throwing a tincture in. The majority of CBD products are oil-based, and oil famously refuses to mix with aqueous solutions, such as beer. This causes headaches with solubility, clarity, and stability.
To fix this, brewers are trying water-soluble CBD extracts and nanoemulsions, to make the CBD smaller so that it can be easily absorbed and spread out. For example, Colorado-based brewery, Dad & Dudes Breweria, created this headline in 2016 when the brewery became the first U.S brewery to federally receive approval to sell CBD-infused beer. Others, such as Coalition Brewing in Oregon, have created hemp- and CBD-forward ales, using the full spectrum extract where soapy, muddy, and floral characteristics are brought in.
Still, technical hurdles remain. Homebrewers complain of a lack of head retention and stability of the foam, and some consumers point to a faintly grassy or herbal aftertaste. However, when properly honed in on, CBD can blend organically with a product, providing not only a perception of benefits of wellness but interesting flavor variations as an additional value proposition.
The Legal Tightrope
Selling CBD beer if making it is tricky, is even trickier. The U.S. regulatory system is a patchwork of federal and state rulemaking, each contradicting the other. Although federal legalization of hemp-derived CBD came in with the 2018 Farm Bill, the FDA still does not approve of the consumption of its product in food and beverages. This leaves breweries in the legal gray area.
Breweries in the more permissive cannabis states such as Oregon, Colorado, and California are where the charge has been led, but distribution is limited, according to the Brewers Association. CBD-infused drinks are regulated in Canada under tight cannabis laws, and the products are sold exclusively in licensed dispensaries. Meanwhile, some CBD beers could hit the EU market, but European Union countries have different rules.
What Does CBD Beer Taste Like?
When I tasted a CBD-infused IPA at a festival in Denver, I thought for sure I’d get a medicinal wallop, but instead, the beer was surprisingly discreet. The beer pines, citrus-forward hops played nicely with a subtle herbal background, and the mouthfeel was silky smooth, almost creamy.
There have been mixed but curious consumer reactions. A 2023 survey by the Brewers Association shows 40 percent of craft beer drinkers were interested in trying a CBD-infused beer, while 15 percent had already tried. Breweries tell us that these beers often sell out in moderately sized releases, which indicates a niche market, but one that is very, very dedicated.
Notable examples include:
- Dad & Dudes George Washington’s Secret Stash, Colorado
- Coalition Brewing’s Two Flowers IPA (Oregon).
- Easy Times IPA (UK) from Hop & Hemp
Wellness Trend or Brewing Revolution?
CBD beer is at the convergence point of two megatrends. The rise of functional beverages and the craft beer revolution. As customers look for drinks that “do more”, whether it’s kombucha for the gut’s sake or those adaptogen-spiked sodas for less stress, CBD beer feels like the next logical step.
But it’s got legs, or does it? Some brewers are cautious. For Bart Watson, the chief economist of the Brewers Association, “It’s still a niche product. “We’re seeing excitement, but far from the level of hazy IPAs or hard seltzers.”
That notwithstanding, the global cannabis beverage market is expected to grow to $8.5 billion by 2027, says Grand View Research. CBD beer is not big these days, but it might surf the wave if consumer demand keeps picking up and restructures our regulatory frameworks.
A Homebrewer’s Playground
CBD presents a tantalising laboratory for experimentation for homebrewers, but with caveats. First, be sure to get lab-tested, legal CBD from reliable suppliers. Second, keep in mind that oil-based CBD can run havoc on carbonation and mouth-feel; the preferred option is water-soluble isolates or emulsions. And third, dosing matters: too much CBD can result in off tastes or legal nightmares, depending on your location.
Adventurous homebrewers are already conducting their informal trials testing CBD vs. non-CBD batches in triangle tests, marking subtle differences in body, head retention, and perceived relaxation effects.
Where the Road Leads
Is CBD beer just another gimmick in the craft brewing world, or the real deal?
We can’t say at this point. The rules continue to be hazy, and most homebrewers are treading carefully. This, however, is a real consumer interest, and it is increasing. For the time being, at least, CBD beer is taking up an intriguing position in the craft universe: a little curiosity, a little creativity, and a little responding to our changing relationship with cannabis and wellness.
One thing’s certain: as a cannabis consumer (and beer lover), I’ll be watching – and sipping – during this experiment’s progression.
