Like that of fire and that of general relativity, the discovery of the link between hops and cannabis is one of the important events in the history of humanity. What is the property within members of the Cannabaceae family that makes mankind so very excited to open their mouths and wallets for them? And where, exactly, is the evolutionary connection between these two powerhouses of human consumption.
Once one is aware of it, the link between these two plants seems almost obvious. The smell and taste of smoking good marijuana is incomparable, except, perhaps, for that of enjoying a good quality beer. As for the words used to describe the aroma of a beer, aren't they strangely reminiscent of those used for a variety of cannabis? Each, in their own way, intoxicate the mind as much as the senses, and botanists now think they know why.
The role of terpenes
Terpenes are a class of chemicals synthesised by specific plant cells and are responsible for the taste and aroma of different plants. Lemon, for example, gets its characteristic smell from a compound called limonene, which is also present in cannabis. Researchers at the University of British Columbia have identified almost 30 different terpenes in the cannabis genome, including linalool, pinene and myrcene to name but a few.
Terpenes are a component that hops and cannabis also share. In hops, one can similarly encounter aromas and flavours of pinene (that pine smell) and myrcene (a more fruity aroma). With nearly 150 varieties of hops and countless strains of cannabis, some properties will surely overlap.
Interestingly, the bitter taste that beers get after being infused with hops is not due to terpenes, but terpenoids. Terpenoids are compounds derived from terpenes, but are not terpenes in their own right. An example is humulene, a derivative of alpha-humulene.
The relationship between hops and cannabis from a taxonomical perspective
Before hops and cannabis were correctly classified by taxonomists as plants in the Cannabaceae family, they were thought to be of the Urticales. In 2002, however, American and British molecular biologists decided it was time to put an end to the confusion created by their predecessors. To this end, they conducted their own exhaustive and in depth research, which confirmed that hops and cannabis were in fact related, within – you guessed it – the Cannabaceae family.
The kinship does not stop there. In fact, this small sub-family of Cannabaceae actually belongs to an even larger group of plants, conveniently (or confusingly) also called Cannabaceae. This means that the common ancestor of hops and cannabis is also the ancestor of many other plants, too.
The union of the two: cannabis and beer
The pressing question: does cannabis beer exist? The answer: yes, it does. There are many brewers (especially within the United States) who are experimenting with the beautiful union of these two plants, apparently destined to find one another a few million years post separation.
There are several ways to create this wonderful concoction: “raw” cannabis can be infused into beer, though this only serves to enhance the taste, not any effects. However, if the cannabis is decarboxylated first, then the resulting beer will contain THC.
In Holland, for instance, cannabis beer is commonly available, and sold in supermarkets. However, it is of the non-decarboxylated type, meaning that it does not contain any of the psychoactive THC component. In the United States, the reverse is available: beers are being produced with a high THC content but without the addition of alcohol. So, for now, it's one or the other.
Currently, one can only imagine what it must be like to sip a real cannabis beer. If consumed responsibly, this product could literally revolutionise the way consumers could enjoy these two substances together.
Whether the result of a simple accident of evolution or some other process, the link between cannabis and hops does not fail to fascinate. The union of the two makes sense, given their common ancestry. It may also explain our love for these two wonderful plants.
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