A New Brew: Hemp Beer is Hip

[boulder]

Time Magazine

 

The crowd is young, hip and thirsty. But there is plenty of cold beer around and the spirits are, um, high, especially when the word gets out that the brew is made with hemp — marijuana's non- psychoactive cousin. Despite the rowdy comments about getting stoned, this is not a seedy bar in a back alley, but the respected Salon of Taste in Turin, a gourmet fest organized last October by Slow Food, a worldwide organization promoting healthy eating. Here the message in the bottle is that since hemp is rich in nutrients and essential fatty acids, beer containing this fibrous plant is good for what ales you.

 

It is also controversial. The hemp used in the beer has a very low narcotic content, but because the plant is of the same species as marijuana some governments prohibit its cultivation. In other countries laws are slowly changing, allowing the import of the beer and other drinks and foods containing hemp extracts, provided that the percentage of thc — the ingredient responsible for the "high" — remains within the 0.2% limit imposed by the European Union in 2002.

 

Now several small European breweries are capitalizing on the more liberal attitudes. One, the Genuine Beer Company in Mendrisio, Switzerland, which distributes the slightly sweet tasting Hanf-blüte Beer, is conquering new markets, including traditionally wine-producing ones like Italy. "It is a very good beer and there is a big demand for it," explains Paolo Codoni, the company's ceo. "In countries where hemp is forbidden, the beer is a novelty." Although hemp beer remains a niche product, it's popularity is growing throughout Europe. But does drinking hemp beer make you high? "No," says Buddy Piper, whose Amsterdam shop, Nirvana, sells its own hemp brew. "But it definitely can make you drunk.

[Ferre]

"No," says Buddy Piper, whose Amsterdam shop, Nirvana, sells its own hemp brew. "But it definitely can make you drunk.

 

The owner of Nirvana is a close friend of mine and his name is NOT Buddy Piper. :angry: Dunno who they been interviewing but it was not the owner of Nirvana bcouse he has given more interviews and doesn't use "aliases"

[boulder]

Source: Time Magazine

Author: Helena Backmann - Geneva

Section: Food & Wine

Published: January 20, 2003 Vol. 161, No. 3

Copyright: 2003 Time Inc.

Contact: letters@time.com

Website: http://www.time.com/time/

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Send the suckers email to confirm??.

 

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[boulder]

The history of Nirvana goes way back to the end of the 1980's. At that time Nirvana's founder was working at Amsterdam's most famous grow-shop, the legendary "Positronics", and it was the knowledge and inspiration that he received there that moved him to think about starting his own seed company. Years were spent traveling, seeking out and collecting seeds from the finest strains. And more years went in experimentation, growing, cross breeding and developing the new strains from among which Nirvana selected the best to become their range of high quality hybrid seeds. After applying and expanding his experience in a number of Amsterdam's best known grow- shops it came time to offer the expertise he had gained, and the high quality products he had developed, to the world. The result of this initiative was the foundation of Nirvana in 1995. Originally a seed specialist, Nirvana is now an innovative business concept. It has developed into a shop with a unique and original range of self-developed hemp products that extend the uses of this extraordinary plant further than ever before.

 

Nirvana means: a state of happiness.

 

While constantly improving and extending its range of high quality seeds, Nirvana has also developed a range of hemp products that are unique. As the new millennium starts, alongside Nirvana's own Home-brew Hemp Wine and Hemp Beer, there is a choce of original products such as Hemp Vinegar, Hemp Ice Tea and Eva's Paradijs, Hemp Liqueur.

 

In the heart of the picturesque Pijp, the Nirvana shop lives up to its name; adding colour and serenity to the surrounding streets. Inside, Among the holy images and smart shop products, the vibe is mellow and the staff are always pleased to offer advice, suggestions or just hang out. Please feel free to pay us a visit. We will always make you feel welcome.

 

As well as a retailer, Nirvana is also world wide wholesaler of hemp, smoking and smart shop products.

 

 

http://www.nirvana.nl/pictures/design/winkel.jpg