Craft Brew News – 1/18/19

Maryland’s Flying Dog Brewery Hopes to Release Cannabis-Infused Beer

Pending approval from the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, Flying Dog Brewery and Green Leaf Medical Cannabis plan to release Hop Chronic IPA, the state of Maryland’s first THC-infused non-alcoholic beer.

The two Frederick, Maryland-based companies announced today that they intend to make Hop Chronic available to the state’s medical cannabis patients as an alternative to smoking or vaping as early as this summer.

Flying Dog CEO Jim Caruso stated, “For people who don’t want to smoke, don’t want to vape, there’s no path of experiencing the therapeutic benefits,” “It feels good to be a part of creating a delicious IPA where people who want to experience cannabis that way can do that.”

However, Flying Dog and Green Leaf face a potential regulatory roadblock as the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission has yet to allow companies to produce or sell edible cannabis products.
Nevertheless, Caruso stated that he’s optimistic the product will be approved since similar offerings have already received the go ahead in other states, like Colorado, where Ceria, Inc. founder and Blue Moon creator Keith Villa launched a similar product in December.

If approved, Flying Dog would join a number of beer manufacturers that have already entered the cannabis space. Large beer companies such as Anheuser-Busch InBev (Tilray), Constellation Brands (Canopy Growth) and Molson Coors (Hexo) have each struck partnerships with Canadian cannabis companies. Other U.S. beer manufacturers, including Heineken-owned Lagunitas and Craft Brew Alliance (31.4 percent owned by A-B InBev), have experimented or explored the possibility of THC- and CBD-infused beverages.

Ballast Point Sets Opening Date for Downtown Disney Taproom

A year after announcing plans to open a taproom in Anaheim’s downtown Disney district at the Disneyland Resort, San Diego’s Ballast Point’s brewpub has set an opening date of Wednesday, January 16.

The Constellation Brands-owned craft brewery said the new taproom will feature a 3-barrel brewing system and offer more than 50 styles of Ballast Point beer across 100 tap lines.

Constellation Brands craft and specialty president Ben Dollard said, via a press release. “This new location also gives our passionate brewing and culinary teams the perfect place to test new and inventive offerings, as we welcome longtime Ballast Point fans and introduce new guests to our brand,” The Disney taproom is Ballast Point’s ninth in the U.S.

Braxton Brewing Announces $5 Million Expansion

Kentucky’s Braxton Brewing Company has embarked on a $5 million expansion that will include the purchase of the building where its brewery is currently situated, as well as the construction of a rooftop bar and the installation of a new canning line.

Braxton co-founder and CEO Jake Rouse said the construction of the new 5,000 sq. ft. rooftop bar would cost about $1.5 million.

The craft beer maker, which launched in 2015, will also spend approximately $2 million to acquire the Covington, Kentucky, property where the brewery is located, and another $1.5 million to expand production capabilities.

According to Rouse, Braxton made about 17,000 barrels of beer in 2018, up from 11,500 in 2017. The company expects to produce upwards of 25,000 barrels in 2019 but will have the capacity to make 30,000 barrels.

In late December, Braxton announced the launch of Vive Hard Seltzer. The product will be sold in 12 oz. slim cans, which led the company to invest in a new canning line capable of filling those packages.

In addition to the Vive Hard Seltzer line, Braxton recently launched a new year-round New England-style IPA, called Tropic Flare. Four-packs of 12 oz. cans sell for a suggested retail price of $9.99.

San Diego Brewers Guild, Lyft Share Most Requested Brewery Destinations

The San Diego Brewers Guild and Lyft shared their list of most traveled craft brewery destinations of 2018. Those destinations include Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens at Liberty Station, Half Door Brewing Co., Fall Brewing Company, Mike Hess Brewing in North Park, Border X Brewing, Hillcrest Brewing Company, Ocean Beach Brewery, Mission Brewery, Viewpoint Brewing Company and Coronado Brewing Company/Coronado Brewpub.

The Brewers Guild and Lyft also shared the most requested brewery destinations during the 2018 San Diego Beer Week, which included Stone Brewing World Bistro at Liberty Station, Karl Strauss Brewing Company, Half Door Brewing Co., AleSmith Brewing Company and Bay City Brewing Co.

Lyft will continue to serve as the official rideshare partner of the San Diego Brewers Guild in 2019.

Stories brought to you courtesy of Brewbound (www.brewbound.com)

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Michael Potorti is the Host of Craft Beer Storm and Founder/Brewer at Beara Brewing Co. in Portsmouth, NH

Michael Potorti
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michael@bearairishbrew.com

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