Hops and Cannabis Are Botanical Cousins

Ever opened an aggressively hopped IPA and thought the aroma seemed strangely familiar? There is a botanical reason.

Hops, Humulus lupulus, and cannabis both belong to the flowering plant family Cannabaceae. They are different plants, but they share evolutionary ancestry and some overlapping aromatic chemistry. Compounds such as myrcene can contribute to aromas associated with both.

That helps explain why certain hops are described as dank, herbal, resinous, piney or even cannabis-like.

And it is another reminder that beer history is not simply the history of breweries. It is also agriculture. Botany. Chemistry. Plant breeding. And generations of farmers selecting varieties for flavour and aroma.

The modern IPA revolution may finish in the brewery. But part of the story begins in the field.

That's Tally's Take.