Brewing a Craft Beer Infused with CBD Hash

Introduction

The world of craft brewing is constantly reinventing itself, and one of the current trends is offering beers infused with hemp extracts. This enthusiasm is not surprising, as the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.) has a rich and varied aromatic palette, much like hops. Moreover, CBD Hash, derived from industrial hemp containing less than 1% THC, is legal in Switzerland (according to the Federal Office of Public Health, FOPH, [source: www.bag.admin.ch]). It can therefore be integrated into various products, including beer, to bring a touch of new flavors and sensory experiences.

In this article, we will explore in detail the process of brewing a craft beer infused with CBD Hash. We will examine not only the step-by-step procedure but also the legal aspects and precautions to take to offer a quality product that complies with current legislation. We will also see how to best preserve aromatic compounds and analyze the final CBD profile of the beer. You will discover the ins and outs of an infusion synonymous with creativity, bridging the world of brewing and that of the hemp plant.

Swiss Legislation and CBD

To address the topic of CBD Hash in beer, it is first necessary to clarify the legal framework in Switzerland. The Confederation tolerates the cultivation and commercialization of hemp (and derivatives) as long as the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content does not exceed 1%. Officially, these same legal principles are governed by:

  • The Narcotics Act (LStup, RS 812.121) and its Ordinance on the Control of Narcotics (OCStup, RS 812.121.1).
  • Information issued by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) specifies that CBD, when extracted from an industrial hemp plant (with less than 1% THC), is not subject to the strict regulations applicable to narcotics.

In other words, from a legal standpoint, if you use compliant CBD Hash (with a THC content below 1%), you can incorporate it into food preparations like beer. That said, labeling and traceability remain crucial. Swiss authorities (FOPH and cantonal authorities) may require laboratory reports clearly indicating cannabinoid content.

For added security, before any large-scale commercialization, have your THC and CBD levels confirmed by a certified laboratory in Switzerland. You must also comply with any health authorization requirements for food production, particularly in the brewing sector.

Why Infuse CBD Hash in Beer?

The Terpene Profile and Complementarity with Hops

Hops and hemp share a botanical kinship. They sometimes contain similar terpenes, such as myrcene, caryophyllene, or humulene. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that largely contribute to a beer’s bouquet of aromas. By infusing beer with CBD Hash, you can enrich the beer with vegetal, spicy, or slightly earthy notes, depending on the origin of your hemp and its terpene profile.

The Softness of CBD

CBD (cannabidiol) is, according to the FOPH, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. It does not produce a marked psychotropic effect, even at relatively high doses, while potentially offering relaxing properties (reported in various peer-reviewed studies). Although CBD concentrations in an infused beer are modest, some enthusiasts seek this subtle balance: enjoying a hoppy drink while benefiting from a slight calming effect, without experiencing excessive intoxication.

The Curiosity Effect and Novelty

From a purely marketing perspective, offering a craft beer with CBD Hash often attracts the attention of consumers looking for novelty and taste discoveries. The craft beer market is already highly competitive, and this feature can help you stand out.

Choosing Your Beer Style

Every beer style can potentially pair with CBD Hash, but some are more suited to highlight hemp aromas:

  1. IPA (India Pale Ale): IPAs are rich in hops and fruity or resinous aromas. The vegetal notes of CBD Hash can wonderfully complement the slightly bitter and citrusy side of some IPAs.
  2. Pale Ale: Often less hoppy than IPA, Pale Ale can offer an interesting playground for a more subdued aromatic profile, allowing CBD to express itself more distinctly.
  3. Stout: The roasted notes of a Stout (coffee, chocolate) can create a pleasant contrast with the resinous or herbal nuances of hemp.
  4. Wheat Beer (white): Wheat beers often have a light profile, sometimes fruity (banana, clove, citrus). It can be fun to enhance these notes with a subtle touch of hemp.

The choice will ultimately depend on your preferences, your taste objectives, and the type of CBD Hash you use (more or less fruity, earthy, etc.).

Steps for Craft Brewing with CBD Hash

1. Selecting and Analyzing Your CBD Hash

Before starting, ensure the origin of your CBD Hash. It must come from a reliable source and have undergone laboratory analysis to guarantee a THC level below 1%. Laboratory reports are essential to comply with legislation and avoid any risk of exceeding the legal THC threshold.

CBD Hash can present various cannabinoid and terpene profiles depending on the original strain. If you wish to develop a specific recipe, keep in mind that the total CBD content and the terpene panel of the Hash will impact the final taste.

2. Calculating the Dosage

Although Swiss regulations set the THC limit at 1%, they do not necessarily define a precise limit for CBD. However, it is always recommended to maintain a responsible dosage to avoid an overly concentrated drink, especially if you intend to sell this beer.

An initial possible dosage is generally around 1 to 3 grams of CBD Hash for 20 liters of wort, considering that the fermentation and maturation phase can vary the final CBD concentration. A flexible dosage that adjusts to the beer style is then recommended. In any case, it is better to start modestly and adjust during test brews.

3. Infusion Methods

There are different ways to infuse CBD Hash into beer:

  1. Addition at the end of boiling

    • Once boiling is complete (after your main hopping), you can turn off the heat and incorporate the CBD Hash.
    • This method limits the degradation of terpenes and CBD, which are sensitive to high temperatures.
    • Disadvantage: It is difficult to precisely control the extraction, as the temperature remains high (around 90–100°C).

  2. Dry-hopping (cold addition)

    • After primary fermentation, during the conditioning phase, you can add the CBD Hash to the fermenter or conditioning tank.
    • Lower temperatures better protect terpenes and CBD.
    • The disadvantage lies in the limited solubility of cannabinoids in a non-alcoholic or low-alcohol medium at this stage. A slight loss (or retention in particles) is therefore possible.

  3. Alcoholic maceration before addition

    • You can dissolve the CBD Hash in a neutral alcohol (like vodka) beforehand and then incorporate this mixture into the wort or beer at the end of fermentation.
    • Alcohol facilitates the extraction of CBD and terpenes. However, you must consider the impact of alcohol content on your final beer.

In practice, many craft brewers opt for the addition at the end of boiling or dry-hopping, often conducting tests to find the optimal balance between aroma, flavor, and cannabinoid preservation.

4. Fermentation and Conditioning

Fermentation does not change radically when adding CBD Hash, but you should ensure:

  • Fermenter cleanliness: Any trace of contamination can develop more easily if the beer contains oily components (even in small proportions) such as those from CBD.
  • Temperature control: As with any beer, strictly adhere to the fermentation temperature indicated for the yeast strain. Temperature deviations can alter the final aromatic profile.
  • Cold crash: This step clarifies the beer, as CBD can cause slight opalescence. By cooling to 1–4°C, you help suspended particles settle at the bottom of the tank.

5. Bottling or Kegging

Conditioning remains identical to that of a classic beer (adding priming sugar for bottle refermentation or kegging under pressure). However, note that CBD can affect foam formation. It is wise to test your CBD Hash levels and carbonation protocol on small quantities before proceeding to larger volumes.

Analytical Control of the Finished Product

To ensure that your beer complies with Swiss legislation (< 1% THC) and to know the exact CBD level, it is highly recommended to use a certified laboratory. An analysis after brewing can reveal:

  1. THC content: Essential to ensure compliance with the legal threshold.
  2. CBD content: Useful for correctly labeling your beer (and informing the consumer).
  3. Presence of terpenes: Allows evaluating the success of your infusion method.

A laboratory test, although it has a cost, is a precaution to ensure the sanitary and legal compliance of your product.

Preservation and Stability of Cannabinoids

CBD and terpenes present in CBD Hash are relatively fragile to oxidation, light, and heat. Several scientific studies indicate that cannabinoids degrade with prolonged exposure to oxygen and excessively high temperatures (for a summary, you can consult some scientific reports published in peer-reviewed journals, although these often focus on pure extracts).

To optimize stability:

  • Oxygen reduction: When transferring the beer, minimize oxidation by purging the fermenter or conditioning tank with CO₂.
  • Opaque bottles: Using brown bottles (rather than green or clear ones) protects from light that can degrade terpenes and cannabinoids.
  • Cool storage: A low storage temperature (around 5–10°C) will prolong freshness and aromatic stability.

Sensory Profile: What CBD Hash Brings

Enthusiasts and brewers who have experimented with adding CBD Hash to beer often note:

  1. Vegetal, earthy, herbal aromas: Some describe a slight “pine” or forest note, sometimes reminiscent of the flavor of an intensely hopped IPA.
  2. A subtle additional bitterness: Although hemp is not hops, it can contribute to the complexity of bitter notes.
  3. Smoothness on the palate: The resinous character of CBD Hash can give a slight velvety texture in the mouth.

It is essential to note that adding CBD Hash does not transform the beer into a “medicinal” or “psychoactive” drink. With THC being very low, the psychoactive impact is almost nil. Whether or not one feels a slight relaxing effect depends heavily on individual sensitivity and the actual CBD level in the final recipe.

Health and Safety Precautions

Before launching a commercial CBD Hash beer project, it is recommended to:

  1. Consult cantonal authorities: Standards may vary slightly depending on the canton.
  2. Obtain laboratory certificates: Prove that your CBD Hash complies with legal limits.
  3. Implement a traceability process: Identify the hemp variety, purchase date, batch, etc.
  4. Keep documentation: Invoices, analyses, possible customs declarations if you import CBD Hash.

All these precautions are intended to avoid potential legal or health issues. Authorities may require proof at any time that your finished products comply with the legislation.

Step-by-Step Practical Recipe (Example)

To help you realize, here is an example recipe that can serve as a starting point (for 20 liters of beer).

  1. Malt:

    • 4 kg of Pale Ale malt
    • 0.5 kg of Cara 20 EBC malt for color and slight body
    • 0.3 kg of oat flakes for mouthfeel

  2. Water:

    • Adjust the pH of your water to about 5.2–5.5 for brewing.

  3. Mashing:

    • Maintain 66°C for 60 minutes (follow your maltster’s advice).

  4. Hopping:

    • Bittering hops (e.g., Magnum) at 60 minutes: 15 g
    • Aromatic hops (e.g., Cascade) at 10 minutes: 20 g

  5. End of Boiling / Whirlpool:

    • Turn off the heat and let the temperature drop to around 80–85°C.
    • Optionally add a whirlpool hop (5 g of Cascade).

  6. Adding CBD Hash:

    • Incorporate 2 g of crumbled CBD Hash (or previously dissolved in a little neutral alcohol) at this stage for moderate infusion.
    • Stir gently for a few minutes.

  7. Cooling:

    • Cool the wort to fermentation temperature (18–20°C, depending on the chosen yeast).

  8. Yeast Pitching:

    • Use an ale yeast (for example, Safale US-05 or similar).

  9. Fermentation:

    • Ferment for 7 to 10 days (or until gravity stabilizes).

  10. Dry-hopping (optional):

    • If you want to enhance the aroma, you can add an additional 1 g of CBD Hash in the fermentation tank along with an extra 15 g of aromatic hops.
    • Leave in contact for a maximum of 3 to 5 days.

  11. Bottling:

    • Add priming sugar (about 5–6 g/liter depending on the desired carbonation level).
    • Let rest at room temperature (20–22°C) for 2 to 3 weeks.

  12. Tasting and Storage:

    • Taste your beer at least one month after bottling to allow it time to mature.
    • Store bottles in a cool, dark place.

This basic recipe yields an aromatic blonde beer with a hint of herbal and resinous notes from the CBD Hash. The proportions and infusion method can be adjusted according to your taste.

In Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe, interest in CBD-infused beverages has seen some growth. Microbreweries are experimenting with different variants, sometimes in collaboration with local hemp growers, to produce limited series (seasonal beers, for example).

Moreover, some brands specialize in extracting hemp terpenes to provide specific concentrations, allowing brewers to significantly personalize their product. Swiss laboratories offering cannabinoid analyses sometimes provide specific services to help brewers understand the stability of their product over time or under different storage conditions.

Conclusion

Brewing a craft beer infused with CBD Hash is a technical, sensory, and legal adventure. Switzerland, with its relatively clear regulations for hemp-based products below 1% THC, offers a favorable ground for innovation. However, one must not overlook:

  1. Legal rigor: Strictly adhere to the Narcotics Act and the Ordinance on the Control of Narcotics, systematically verifying THC levels.
  2. Quality control: Analyzing your beer in a laboratory ensures not only consumer safety but also compliance with authorities.
  3. Taste mastery: Adjusting the CBD Hash dosage, infusion method, and beer style to achieve a coherent, pleasant, and balanced profile.

By considering all these aspects, you can create a unique beer, combining the bitterness and aromatic profile of hops with the subtle notes of hemp. CBD Hash adds its original touch while respecting laws and consumer health. Enjoying this fusion between two plant worlds rich in history and aromas is an opportunity to innovate in the Swiss brewing landscape. Happy brewing!