Modist to Sell THC Seltzers at its Taproom
In the wake of Minnesota legalizing hemp-derived THC products in July—amid some controversy, as it was unclear whether that was what many lawmakers had intended to do—Modist Brewing in Minneapolis says it will now begin offering a line of cannabis-infused, fruit-flavored seltzers. Called TINT—an acronym for “Thanks, I needed that”—the seltzers are nonalcoholic and contain just 3 mg of THC per 16 oz serving. The new Minnesota law allows up to 5 mg per serving, and the brewery says a version of the seltzer at that dose is in the works. TINT’s two debut flavors are Mango Passionfruit and Blackberry Lime. “We’re excited to play our part in changing the narrative around THC in Minnesota,” says Modist co-owner and head of marketing Daniel Paul Wellendorf. “We believe that THC can play a safe and important role in Minnesota’s social world, and we’re happy that our state has taken steps to make it happen. We needed that.”
Hopsteiner and CLS Farms Make Deal on Proprietary Hops
CLS Farms in Moxee, Washington, now has a license to grow and market Altus, Calypso, Lotus, and Sultana hops, after reaching an agreement with Hopsteiner. This is the first time that Hopsteiner has expanded these proprietary varieties to an outside grower. CLS Farms says that all four varieties are dual-purpose with strong, distinctive aromas. They tend toward higher yields, higher alpha acids, and stronger resistance to viruses. They also grow efficiently on a per-acre basis, making them a sensible choice amid pressures from climate change and cost inflation.
FoBAB Festival Returns (In Person) in November
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild has announced that the Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers, in its 20th year, will once again be an in-person event on November 4 and 5 at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago. As usual, the popular festival will showcase some of the country’s best and rarest barrel-aged beers, ciders, meads, and perries. Besides the annual competition—which continued virtually the past two years—there will be an award ceremony and two in-person tasting sessions featuring hundreds of barrel-aged beers. Tickets to attend cost $85. For information on the competition, contact [email protected].