Crack open a bottle of New Belgium’s The Hemperor HPA and its dank, heady aroma is quick to permeate the room. Yep, it smells like weed. Nope, there’s no THC. And you bet we’re all about this fascinating hemp beer.
The Hemperor is a new breed of IPA—an ambrosial fusion of hops and hemp—that’s carving out it’s own category in the craft beer aisle as a hemp pale ale.
And while its herbal aroma is sure to turn heads—hemp is marijuana’s cousin—the brew is piquing interest (and alarm) for its role in a burgeoning industrial hemp revolution.
Here’s everything you need to know about The Hemperor—what it tastes like, where you can buy it, and its wild backstory.