Source: The Courier-Journal Author: Missy Baxter Pubdate: Sunday March 1, 19998 Contact: http://www.courier-journal.com/cjconnect/edletter.htm FAX: 502-582-4200 Website: http://www.courier-journal.com/ BEER FLAVORED WITH HEMP SEEDS DOES WELL IN KENTUCKY LEXINGTON, KY - Instead of just saying "cheers" when they toss back a beer, the folks at the Lexington Brewing Co. have a new toast - "hemp, hemp hooray." In cooperation with the recently formed Kentucky Hemp Beer Co., the Lexington Brewing Co. has developed a new brew that uses industrial hemp seeds. The micro-brewery began distributing the beer last month in liquor stores, bars and restaurants throughout the state. And it seems to be a hit. "We wanted to use the natural flavors of the hemp seed to make a great beer, and we've definitely done it....It's a great tasting beer and it's selling well," said Mike Hart, president of the Kentucky Hemp Beer Co. The new Kentucky brew was part of a hemp beer tasting held Thursday in Philadelphia. The results will be featured in a coming issue of American Brewer Magazine. As far as Kentucky customers are concerned, thought, the results are already in and "they're giving the hemp beer a thumbs up," said Chris Franklin, vice president of the Lexington Brewing Co. "We're selling out so quickly in the central Kentucky area that we've already had to increase production tremendously," he said. In Louisville, Kentucky Hemp Beer is available at Liquor Outlet, Party Source and other locations. The company hopes to sell the hemp beer nationwide eventually and possibly to export it. Franklin describes the beer as "a rich, mellow American-style beer" with "a unique smooth taste." Kentucky Hemp Beer Co. is the second firm in the United States to receive approval from the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to sell the beer publicly. Several European brewing companies produce hemp ale. The first U.S. company to be approved, Frederick Brewing Co. in Maryland, makes Hempen Ale. It has been very successful, said Malcolm MacKinnon, editor of Hemp Times, a New York magazine that plans an article about Kentucky Hemp Beer. Brewing hemp beer in Kentucky " seems to make perfect sense, based on the state's strong history with hemp," said Bill Ambrose, president of the Lexington Brewing Co. Industrial hemp was once grown for fiber in large quantities in Kentucky, especially the Lexington area. Despite the recent publicity surrounding industrial hemp, Ambrose contends that the new beer "is not just a marketing gimmick." The Lexington Brewing Co., founded in 1994, also produces limestone amber, pale and porter ales, as well as four seasonal brews. The hemp beer was added, Ambrose said, to appeal to customers who prefer a lighter, cleaner lager instead of the heavier, European-style ales that the company also produces. Using hemp seeds to replace some of the hops "worked very well," Ambrose said, because hemp is related to hops. In perfecting the recipe for hemp beer, Brian Miller, brewmaster of the Lexington Brewing Co., experimented with various formulas using industrial hemp seeds from Europe. "When they first approached me about using hemp in beer, I wanted to make sure I could brew one that was up to the same standards I use in making our limestone beers," Miller said.