Two Categories More Closely Connected Than You Think

By Mackenzie Dew

In the realm of libations and intoxicants, an intriguing kinship emerges between beer and cannabis—a delightful symphony of flavors and intoxicating aromas orchestrated by terpenes. These aromatic compounds, found in beer and cannabis and a wide variety of plants and botanicals, tantalize the senses, infusing flavors, aromas, and driving the effects that captivate enthusiasts of both categories.

Terpenes paint a fragrant canvas across various plants, including the noble hop and the cannabis flower. Within their delicate nuance lies the key to the extraordinary flavors and aromas found in diverse strains of cannabis and a kaleidoscope of hops and beer styles. However, beyond their sensory allure alone, terpenes possess the power to shape the physiological effects experienced by both beer and cannabis enthusiasts, and can take an experience from subtle and sleepy to energized and effervescent.

Key terpenes in cannabis include limonene, which dances with zesty citrus vibrancy; myrcene sings a sultry serenade of ripe and deep tropical fruits, while pinene adds a refreshing woodland note of pine and herby rosemary; and caryophyllene lends its spicy, peppery harmonies to the orchestra. These terpenes, as virtuosos in their own right, not only infuse cannabis strains with distinct scents and flavors, but also orchestrate an entourage effect where they interact with cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, to influence the overall psychoactive and medicinal properties, revealing the true essence of each strain in this harmonious dance. It is at the intersection of terpenes and cannabinoids where Sour Diesel becomes known as an uplifting strain with a pungent, gassy flavor, and Blue Dream earns its reputation as a relaxing, sweet-berry, earthy delight.

Terpenes are similarly present within the hallowed halls of beer brewing, where hops take center stage. With their terpene-rich profiles, each hop variety may unleash a symphony of flavors and aromas, each note interwoven with subtlety and finesse. They are what drive the crisp, citrus-meets sweet florals of the Cascade hop, and what mark Simcoe’s resinous, piney flavor and Citra’s zesty bright citrus profile.

The genetic kinship between hops and cannabis continues beyond the aromatic bond of terpenes, as both plants share a lineage within the Cannabaceae family. Hops gracefully reside in the genus Humulus, while cannabis, with its distinctive allure, flourishes within the genus Cannabis. Together, they are aromatic botanical cousins that offer synergy between flavor and effect thanks to the aromatic melody of terpenes.

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