Tilray Enters Hemp-Derived Beverage Market

Photo Credit: Tilray Brands

Could this cannabis lifestyle leader be ready to cash-in on its craft beer distribution through the hemp-derived space?

Tilray Brands, a leading global player in the cannabis market and more recently the craft beer industry, has announced the launch of a new HDD9 (Delta 9) beverage portfolio. Coming on the heels of its most recent acquisitions of craft beer stalwarts such as Atwater Brewery and Revolver Brewing, Tilray’s announcement comes at a time when the growth of hemp-derived drinks is at an all-time high, six years after the 2018 Farm Bill essentially legalized hemp-derived beverages across the U.S., as long as they contained less than .3% of THC on a dry-weight basis.

Tilray's HDD9 beverage lineup includes 420 Fizz, Herb & Bloom, Fizzy Jane's, and Happy Flower. 420 Fizz, a sleek and modern seltzer, offers a refreshing taste with 5mg HDD9 per can. Herb & Bloom, a super-premium mocktail, blends refreshing fruit notes with 5mg HDD9 for a smooth and balanced experience. Fizzy Jane's, a light and delicious seltzer, features three classic flavors and contains 5mg HDD9 per can. Happy Flower, inspired by classic cocktails, offers a variety of fruity and citrusy flavors with 5mg HDD9 THC per can.

Up until now, the hemp-derived adult beverage and cocktail space has been mostly dominated by smaller players and enterprising entrepreneurs. Many smaller craft beer producers have jumped in, such as Atlanta’s Scofflaw Brewing, which along with its own THC/CBD line of drinks, also announced contract capabilities to produce these types of beverages for others. With its most recent spate of acquisitions, Tilray has reportedly become the 4th largest craft beer producer in the United States, with top names that include Sweetwater Brewing, Montauk Brewing, Breckenridge Brewery and others. How they are able to leverage those doors and points of distribution for these new lines will be something to watch.

Disclosure: The Principal of N/ATION Collaborative, LLC owns a small amount of TLRY stock.