Lagunitas Hi-Fi — a THC “Beer”?

As the leading dispensary in Petaluma, Down Under Industries prides itself in not only providing high-quality cannabis products to their customers in an environment that inspires healing, creativity and comfort — but also in supporting other local Sonoma Valley businesses. Today we’re highlighting The Lagunitas Brewing Company along with their Lagunitas Hi-Fi Sessions THC-infused beverages.

The Lagunitas Brewing Company

It all began back in 1993 when Tony Magee was crafting beer using nothing more than a 5-gallon homebrew kit. Expanding out to a rented room that was little more than a storage shed resulted in Tony starting to sling his beers to local bars, and by 1994, he had moved the whole operation out to a Petaluma location where Lagunitas still brews today.

Originally gaining notoriety for their new-world version of the India Pale Ale, Lagunitas became one of the fastest-growing craft breweries in America, known for their diverse range of imaginative and creative beers and a free-spirited approach to business. Partnering with Heineken in 2015 allowed Lagunitas to benefit from a global reach for wider distribution while still maintaining their culture and spirit. With a clear focus on innovation and sustainability, Lagunitas not only created and continues to create a beer for every mood and every occasion but has expanded their brew menu to include seasonal releases, non-alcoholic options, sparkling hard tea and cannabis-infused sparkling waters.

Lagunitas + Cannabis

Lagunitas has always had a good relationship with cannabis. Lagunitas founder Tony was known to say, “It takes a lot of good weed to make a great beer.” 2001 was the first time Lagunitas unabashedly proclaimed their love for marijuana with the release of a beer called The Kronik. Unfortunately, the government agency in charge rejected the label bearing that name, so Lagunitas slapped a censored label over the word Kronik and forever changed the name to Censored.

In 2011, Lagunitas first released their herbaceous Waldos’ Special Ale, whose name was a nod to the originators of the 420 moniker. Released every year sometime around that date in April, early iterations of this limited edition special triple IPA featured a different malt and hop every year but were always brewed with the dankest, stankiest, stickiest hops they could find.

Other Lagunitas beers with cannabis-related names have since followed. With no shame in their game, the company was known for throwing weekly tasting parties for their employees at the auspicious time of 4:20 p.m. Until one day, local authorities took notice, initiated a sting operation and attempted a raid on St. Patrick’s Day 2005 by state Alcohol Beverage Control agents, who were looking to arrest employees for dealing pot at the plant. This ultimately failed, resulting in a 20-day suspension of operations — but it was the impetus for the release of a new Lagunitas’ brew with the name Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale.

Lagunitas + AbsoluteXtracts

Lagunitas Brewing is always looking for ways to combine their love for their two favorite plants — hops and cannabis. Their Petaluma neighbors up-the-street, AbsoluteXtracts, a beloved heritage brand committed to providing cannabis lovers in California with the most pure and potent of cannabis concentrates, wanted to do the same.

In 2017, as legal use of medicinal marijuana was accelerating in Sonoma County, the two brands decided to combine together for tandem innovations. ABX and Lagunitas joined forces for what they called SuperCritical, a collaboration of epic proportions. ABX added Lagunitas’ hops’ extracts to their vape cartridges, and Lagunitas brewed a beer with cannabis terpenes. Genius!

Unfortunately, that beer was eventually deemed illegal as a law prohibited (and still does) any THC from being added to any product with any significant alcohol content. But it was that venture that eventually paved the way for Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops, a very successful cannabis-infused sparkling water collaboration.

Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops

In the summer of 2018, Lagunitas Brewing Company released what they called Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops to a very receptive marketplace. Initially only available through California dispensaries, this beverage collaboration marked the first time a major brewery had been legally and successfully represented within the THC-infused beverage space.

Not actually a THC beer, Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops was inspired by their IPA and created to taste as refreshing as water, while having zero calories and the chill that could only come from ingesting the sun-grown cannabis of AbsoluteXtracts. With fruity and tropical notes the hops would provide, both companies believed that it would be a refreshing choice for anyone looking for a beer-inspired non-alcoholic alternative, be they long-time tokers or just the canna-curious.

Containing no calories and no carbs, the beverage collaboration is just one more example of Lagunitas’ creativity and the perfect intersection of culture, craft beer, and cannabis. Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops was the natural next step for a brewing company that had an open love affair with cannabis — and with the AbsoluteXtracts parent company, CannaCraft, applying methods ensuring that THC was evenly dispersed throughout the beverage, their hop-based water was deemed consistently fantastic and dankly delicious.

The Lagunitas Hi-Fi Sessions Evolution

The bubbly, aromatic, fruity and herbaceous gluten-free delight known as Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops was incredibly well received, delivering on all promises made. A unique alternative to THC-infused beer, which was non-alcoholic but dry-hopped like a beer, seemed to be just the ticket — combining all of the health benefits from hops along with the benefits of cannabis.

At first released in glass bottles, making them resemble THC beer, there was originally only one Lagunitas Hi-Fi flavor available with dosing options of either 10mg of THC, or a 5mg THC plus 5mg CBD combo.

In 2022, Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops was revamped into Lagunitas Hi-Fi Sessions. More than just a name change, to meet the diverse needs of consumers, the new Lagunitas Hi-Fi Sessions included:

• Hoppy Chill – 10mg THC with refreshing notes of tropical citrus
• Hoppy Balance – 5mg CBD and 5mg THC with refreshing notes of tropical citrus
• Cloudberry – lower dose option with 2mg THC and 2mg CBD with a tart juicy taste reminiscent of berries
• Mango – newest flavor containing 10mg of THC with the bright fresh taste of tropical mangos

Often misinterpreted as a THC-infused beer due to the inclusion of their hops, this Lagunitas rebrand — which included putting their product into taller, slimmer cans with brighter packaging — was a way to position Lagunitas Hi-Fi Sessions at the top of the non-alcoholic cannabis beverage marketplace while also appealing to a broader audience. Hi-Fi Sessions truly represents the best of two worlds inside a zero-calorie sparkling wellness beverage.

Lagunitas Hi-Fi Sessions vs Typical Cannabis Edibles

So what’s the big deal about an alcohol-free sparkling hop water infused with water-soluble THC derived from the finest California-grown cannabis? Um, everything. In addition to being an ultra-delicious way to quench your thirst, Lagunitas Hi-Fi Sessions are better than your average edible because they are:

• Healthier than most of those decadent edibles that are chock full of sugars, fats, carbs and calories. They are also the perfect option for those who prefer not to smoke or vape due to health concerns or just personal preference.
• Faster acting since, unlike most edibles, the ingredients in Hi-Fi Sessions do not need to be digested to feel the effects. Because of the water-soluble THC and CBD used, it’s absorbed in the mouth and then stomach before travelling through the rest of the body, which means you may feel results in as little as 10 minutes. It’s not only quick, but it also means there is less chance of drinking too much.
• Just plain better since their THC is not converted into 11-Hydroxy-THC within your liver like most edibles. That ultra-potent metabolite is the reason why edible highs feel so much stronger than smoking highs and often result in that couch-lock feeling. The high you get with Hi-Fi Sessions is a far more energetic, uplifting and more functional high compared to consuming a standard cannabis edible.

The amount of THC in each Lagunitas Hi-Fi Session is perfectly distributed, which results in a more steady adventure and typically lasts somewhere between 20 minutes to an hour. Calorie-free, carb-free and gluten-free, the bright refreshing taste of Lagunitas Hi-Fi Sessions provides a smooth high and a hop-flavored experience for those looking for alcohol-free refreshment.

Lagunitas Hi-Fi Sessions & Down Under Industries

Have we piqued your Lagunitas interest?! Buy some Hi-Fi Sessions for yourself or someone you love Down Under Industries. With our cozy Petaluma dispensary and super convenient cannabis delivery service in Sonoma Valley available seven days a week, you can peruse their website 24 hours a day and shop for whatever you need — flower, pre-rolls, vape, concentrates and of course cannabis beverages.

While the menu at Down Under is ever-evolving, no product is ever sold by Down Under without evaluating its lab results, flavor, quality and pricing. There is a reason Down Under customers return again and again. See for yourself what all of the buzz is about, and check out Down Under and all of their fabulous deals today!