Why do some beers smell like cannabis?

Question

In my experience, some beers smell like cannabis. Stella Artios is a distinctive example.

What causes this? - Is it due to a type of hop, or a style?

score 11 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 22 '14 at 04:44

11

The fact that both Humulus lupulus (hops) and Cannabis sativa (marijuana) have similar organoleptic properties (taste and smell) could indicate a common ancestry--but it isn't proof. Lots of plants make similar aroma molecules, known as terpenes and terpenoid compounds, including lemons (which make limonene), lavender (linalool) and conifers (pinene) -- but none of them are closely related to cannabis or hops.

Full article here

answered Jan 22 '14 at 04:44

BryceH

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In which case - why don't more beers smell like cannabis? – dwjohnston Jan 22 '14 at 04:44
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Because most of the aroma is stripped out in the brewing process, unless it's actively pushed back in through dry hopping. – LessPop_MoreFizz Jan 22 '14 at 04:51
They do in fact have a common ancestry. Both are, they are both member of the Cannabaceae family. – Brian Nickel Jan 22 '14 at 20:06
I think it is kind of like Humans and Apes are both primates. I agree they have that ancestry; but that small percent variability makes a world of difference. – BryceH Jan 22 '14 at 20:17
@Grohlier much closer than that even. Think dogs and wolves, not humans and apes. – LessPop_MoreFizz Feb 01 '14 at 15:01

score 7 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 12 '17 at 07:33

The 'dank' scent you're experiencing is the smell of Hops - among the closest botanical neighbors to the Marijuana plant and a key ingredient of beer. The two plants both look and smell nearly identical. Specifically, the dank, resiny scent you pick up from a very hoppy brew is the smell of so-called "Alpha Acids" - which are chemically a part of the same family as THC, the active ingredient in Marijuana.

As to why some beers are, well, dank, and others aren't? It's a factor of the highly variable alpha acid content in different hop varietals, as well as a question of process. Most of the aromatic alpha acids in hops boil off or dissolve as part of the normal fermentation process, however, some brewers 'dry hop' their beer - adding additional hops at the end of the process, with the explicit purpose of enhancing the aromatic qualities of the beer.

actually the plants are close enough that one can be grafted onto the other. — Chris Travers, Jan 22 '14 at 05:45

Why do some beers smell like cannabis?

2 Answers2