Ulster hemp brew set for beer joints

Artisan firm’s cannabis ale

A NORTHERN Ireland brewing company is making a new beer – with cannabis plants.

The Hemp IPA is being produced by well-known artisan outfit Farmageddon.

Its first batch was made with 10 litres of hemp juice and 20kgs of hemp pulp.

But anyone hoping to get high as well as tipsy will be disappointed as the juice and pulp, from a farm in Co Monaghan, contains the CBD associated with medicinal cannabis but only tiny traces of the THC contained in the illegal drug.

Eoin Wilson from the Comber-based brewer told the Mirror blending hops and hemp is not as strange as it sounds.

He added: “The two plants are actually genetically related and would have smells and aromas that are similar depending what hops you are talking about.

“But it’s a lovely beer and it’s been selling like hot cakes. The first batch was 1,800 litres and it’s nearly all gone. But we’re planning another batch of about 2,000 in the next few days.”

The brewers worked with Kama Hemp who are based near Clones and say their juice is the only organic hemp juice in Europe.

They use an industrial wheatgrass juicer to extract the juice which some people use in drinks like smoothies.

The pulp not used can be turned into material like insulation for houses. Eoin added: “They wanted somebody to make beer with it, but no one seemed interested until we got in touch.

“We experimented with the juice and ended up with the 10 litres and 20 kgs of pulp going into the brew.”

It is understood a brewery in England is using a hemp oil, however Farmageddon appear to be one of a very few using the juice and pulp to brew.

BOTTLING IT Farmageddon’s has released its Hemp IPA FRESH BATCH More is planned GONE TO POT Hemp before it goes in ale IN THE MIX Hemp juice is part of beer