Blogs

Cannabis and the Shadow – Working Through Hidden Traumas with Cannabis (Carl Jung Style)

Published

2 years ago

July 31, 2022

Cannabis and the Shadow – How to work hidden traumas with cannabis

“The shadow is a moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable moral effort. To become conscious of it involves recognizing the dark aspects of the personality as present and real. This act is the essential condition for any kind of self-knowledge.”

— Carl Jung, Aion (1951)

The Shadow is the part of ourselves we don’t bring to our social gatherings. The Shadow isn’t displayed with pride on our social media feeds. The Shadow is the hidden aspect of the self we want to distance ourselves from as much as possible.

But no matter how hard we try – it always seems to slip out and reveal our shameful ways for the world to see. We say things we didn’t mean, we reacted badly to the waiter and don’t know why – for some reason a particular smell really pisses you off!

All of these things come from the Shadow and when left unchecked will always keep you stuck in a loop, never escaping the mediocrity of life itself. This is because the shadow is a part of you that splintered off from the ego and isn’t consciously a part of our daily narrative, but still pull a few strings when it comes influencing your behavior. In most cases, your automated responses.

But to understand how the shadow comes to be – and more importantly, how cannabis can aid in integrating these renegade parts of the self, back into the whole.

Understanding Your Layered Reality

First, before we continue it is important to note that “The Map is not the territory”. The concepts I discuss are merely interpretations of events that occur in life that many people assign different names or linguistics too.

By understanding this, we can utilize these metaphorical “lenses” to observe reality in different lights.

For example, “our layered reality”.

Most people don’t think too much about reality. They are typically lost in some trance projected in their lives; work, school, relationships, sports, etc.

Very few people think about how we construct this “picture” we’re all seeing, and participating in. How do we make sense of our world and how to compile events into a single storyline we call “My Life?”

One idea on how we construct the sense of “who we are” through the acquirement of experience is through the “layered reality”. Instead of thinking of our life experiences happening in one continuous motion, this perspective looks at life rather as frames in a movie or “stills” that are layered on top of each other in such a way that it creates the illusion of movement.

This is true for all “motion pictures” you see, from your favorite Youtube video to the latest Marvel blockbuster – everything in reality are simply thousands upon thousands of stills squeezed tightly together to create the illusion of movement.

Now, if you can understand how frames work in a movie – then you can understand how the mind interprets the moments of our lives – like stills stacked on top of each other creating the illusion of cohesion.

The major difference between our personal movie and that from Hollywood is that our lives we experience from “first person”. We are totally enveloped into the experience, engaged with all senses.

In a perfect life, void of trauma – this mechanism of stacking experiences usually don’t cause too much commotion. In reality, our unconscious mind is hyper-effective in ordering thought and experience and ascribing it to our sense of identity.

However, when we experience acute trauma, some parts of the self can “fracture” where the mind then decides it’s probably best to throw this into the darkest corner in order to not have to rewrite the whole program from scratch.

As the mind represses these events, they get lodged into some obscure part of the self, still sensitive to triggers resembling the original trauma. Furthermore, the “shadow” also retains the age/identity of the trauma when it happened.

This is why sometimes you can see a 50-year-old-man throw a tantrum like a 3-year-old toddler; because the Shadow being affected by the current stimuli still retains the age and identity of the original trauma – in the case of the example, what happened to the fictional person at age 3.

This is why Shadow Work is such an important part of personal development or trauma release. By ignoring these parts of the self, these broken pieces of ego – we become enslaved by them. We give them power because we are too afraid to acknowledge that they exist and that our perfect little narrative might not be so perfect after all.

Shadow Work is the practice of diving into the unconscious mind and actively seeking out these rogue parts of the self to heal and integrate them back into the “whole”. Only by doing this, can we free ourselves from their grasp and influence in our lives.

Typical Ways to Work with the Shadow

There are many different ways to deal with these aspects of the self. Psychotherapists have their own way of working with the shadow (they don’t call it that), but if you’re trying to start working with your shadow today – it’s as simple as conversing with the self.

Yes, you heard that right!

You need to engage with the unconscious mind “as if” it’s another person. One simple technique is to follow the emotion to the core of the feeling you’re currently experience.

For example, let’s say you suddenly get overwhelmed by anxiety – you take a few hits from a joint and it seems to diminish the anxiety a bit, but it’s still there. This is a good time to start working with the Shadow.

In this moment, you can begin to ask yourself questions “as if” you are talking to this rogue part of the self. This part of the self will answer you utilizing your own “inner voice”, but eventually with enough practice you would be able to pick up the subtle differences between you and “it” (which is ultimately still you but foreign to the self).

You’ll engage with this shadow element of the self and ask it why it behaves as it does, what it needs to heal, how it could better express itself…etc.

I’ll walk you through a small exercise at the end if you’re interested in this work.

Other ways of working with the shadow is through therapy, utilizing mystical plant medicine, meditation, visualization, breathwork, etc. In reality, there’s quite a lot of techniques available…some might work for you, other not as well.

How does Cannabis Fit into all of this?

Cannabis is a powerful plant that if used correctly can provide significant wellness benefit in your life. One of these benefits is working with past trauma, and it is especially awesome when working with the Shadow.

Firstly, cannabis allows you to process information differently than when you’re at “baseline” or “completely sober”. There is a sense of euphoria typically that helps create a slight separation between the “self” and the conflicting traumatic event.

This is why cannabis works so well for PTSD.

This slight alteration in interpreting the data allows the individual to dis-identify with the traumatic event, providing them with the opportunity to work with the event more intimately. Cannabis also helps in stimulating the right mindset to be guided by the therapist (or yourself) to track down the root cause of your shady problems.

It also helps to disrupt the negative feedback loop of the traumatic event. This allows us to reinterpret the event, reintegrate it into the whole, and move on from the past.

How to work with the Shadow at home?

One of the key ingredients to self-shadow work is that you need to be brutally honest with yourself, you need to acknowledge the Shadow as if it’s another person, and you need to be patient throughout the process.

The more painful memories will be difficult to process, and sometimes, when you are alone – it’s easy to get caught up by the illusion of the “moving still”. We relive our traumas and experience the pain anew. This is why most people do shadow work with someone who can help them by keeping their mind in the present moment and bringing them out of the trance of trauma.

Having this in mind, here’s and exercise I do when I’m working with aspects of my self.

Identify the feeling you are experiencing – people typically start doing shadow work because there is something “nasty” manifesting in their lives. If you’re in this situation and you’re feeling constantly plagued your shadow self – then the first step is to mindfully sit in the discomfort and to feel it completely.

Observe how intense it is on a scale from 1-10, if it has color or a shape, or whether it’s active or passive…keep on analyzing everything about how you “feel” in order to lock into the shadow.
When was the last time I felt like this? The next part happens after you feel the effects of cannabis hitting you (but not F*cked up). In this moment, you’ll begin to query your shadow…you can start by saying things like, “When was the last time you felt like this?” Wait for an image, sensation, person, phrase, etc to kick start a memory. Go to that memory!
Explore the Memory Fully – Once you have locked into the memory, it’s time to start checking it out. Try to understand it from all perspectives. After all, all the people in your memory is you engaging with yourself – so you can shift perspective and try to learn more about the situation even from the perspective of a potential aggressor. Once you have a good grasp on the moment, you’ll prompt the next question.
Go to the Root! – Once you feel ready, ask the following question; “When was the first time I felt like this?” and then simply wait for a memory, a person, something to appear in your mind’s eye. This event will be “closer” to the source of the trauma. If you feel it’s deeper still, ask a follow up question, “Is there an earlier time when I felt like this?” and utilize this line of questioning to trace yourself back to the earliest recollection. Once you’re there, you’ll need to tap dance your self around the shadow throwing everything in your direction; guilt, anxiety, shame, etc. Anything in order to make you not expose itself.

Once you’re coming face to face with the shadow, it’s important to deal with it in lovingkindness. In other word, treat the shadow like a lost puppy – because in essence it is what it is. It won’t be easy, but if you do this enough, you’ll make some significant process in your life.

In order to maximize the shadow work, you could eat a half an edible and do some breathwork to open up the body, relax the mind, and allow the experience to unfold. It allows you to engage with it in a integral manner – and from this space of self-acceptance, the healing can truly begin.

The Cannabis Shadow Work Process

The following is something I have done with some great success.

First, you’ll start off by eating a half a dose of an edible. You don’t want to be too stoned to deal with the shadow. Once you begin to feel the edible, go ahead and do this breathwork meditation.

Once you’re done, deeply relaxed – you can begin to invite the shadow to come and engage with you. Simply ask your unconscious mind, “Oh kind and lovable unconscious mind, please bring my Shadow to my mind’s eye…come talk to me!”

Wait, be patient…and soon you might feel the feelings associated with the shadow appear. Anxiety, fear, trauma – they all begin to come to the fore front…and suddenly you “feel a presence”. It’s you, coming out of the shadow.

Simply feel this part of you, allow it to have its own space, and then ask:

What are particular triggers that you are sensitive too? What caused them?
What’s holding you back from letting go? What can I do to help?
If you can’t let go, is there a better way for you to express yourself?
What’s the most efficient way we can get back to harmony?

You can ask yourself any question really, you simply need to wait for the response. Some people think that they are coming up with the answers themselves, and that this is merely you “mindfucking yourself”. However, the truth of the matter is that if you’re open to the experience – you can make some significant changes in your life, releasing you from a prison of internal psychological cycles.

Do this, and you can begin healing from the hidden traumas in your life!

Don’t be Afraid of the Dark! Get some help!

Some people simply don’t want to deal with their Shadow, mainly because it’s scary, painful and sometimes can be difficult. In these cases, it’s good to reach out to someone to help you on your journey.

If you’re interested in working the Shadow – You can find an expert to help with Shadow Work.

Otherwise, the exercise above can help you or you could even work with someone you trust. Just remember that you want to do it in love, be patient, and mindful of your feelings. Cannabis can help facilitate shadow work tremendously – give it a try!

Source: https://cannabis.net/blog/opinion/cannabis-and-the-shadow-working-through-hidden-traumas-with-cannabis-carl-jung-style

Blogs

Border sales a boost for most marijuana retailers across US

Published

1 year ago

September 8, 2023

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Marijuana sales along state lines are key revenue generators for retail operators in the United States, and new insights suggest a similar business bump along international borders, particularly Mexico.

Data compiled by New York-based wholesale technology platform LeafLink – as well as information gathered from state agencies, quarterly reports and interviews with several cannabis companies – bear that out.

LeafLink analyzed hundreds of ZIP codes at the request of MJBizDaily and found strong links that when new recreational markets open, retailers near borders stock up on inventory significantly more than operators located elsewhere in a state.

Data from the past three years revealed wholesale marijuana products purchased by border stores jumped 140% after the launch of adult-use sales, while retailers located in more interior areas increased purchases by about 80%.

“The growth when a state launches adult-use sales at a border store in terms of purchasing activity is around double the growth of the remainder of the state,” LeafLink Strategy Analyst Ben Burstein told MJBizDaily.

Of course, numerous factors are at play – perhaps none more impactful than the marijuana policies of neighboring states.

That’s why Illinois retailers near Wisconsin, where marijuana possession is illegal, are still attracting Wisconsinites nearly four years after the launch of recreational sales.

There also are retail sales-tax implications, a big reason why St. Louis-areas operators are seeing an influx of shoppers from southern Illinois, where cannabis taxes are at least three times higher than in Missouri.

Meanwhile, border retail in New Mexico is boosting depressed economies along hundreds of miles of its shared borders, drawing stampedes of consumers from neighboring Texas and, more recently, cross-border buyers from Mexico.

Retail shakeup in the heartland

The February launch of adult-use sales in Missouri has caused ripple effects throughout the Midwest.

Missouri holds the rare distinction of bordering eight states, with only Illinois offering recreational marijuana sales.

Missouri’s 6% retail tax on recreational marijuana purchases is also among the lowest in the nation, drawing Illinois consumers across the Mississippi River in droves to buy much cheaper weed.

All in, cannabis sales taxes in neighboring Illinois eclipse 30%, second only to Washington state. And in Chicago, sales taxes can easily top 40%.

Demand is booming in western Missouri, too.

In April, Missouri retailers near the border of Kansas, where marijuana possession is also illegal, told MJBizDaily they were seeing foot traffic increase ninefold after expanding into recreational sales.

The rush of new customers, coupled with cultivation-capacity lags, has led to big spikes in wholesale flower prices and inventory shortages throughout the supply chain.

Retailers, for their part, are trying to keep pace.

To meet consumer demand, wholesale purchases per store in the Kansas City, Missouri, market increased from $97,000 in the quarter before the launch of recreational sales to $491,000 in the quarter after, a whopping 406% jump, according to LeafLink data.

In the St. Louis market, which borders southwestern Illinois, wholesale purchases per store increased nearly 57%, to $610,000, after adult-use sales began.

“The demand’s been bigger than anyone expected,” Burstein said.

A zero-sum game

In marijuana retail, particularly near state borders, it’s a zero-sum game.

The sales boom in the St. Louis market, which has more than 70 stores, has deflated business on the Illinois side of the border, where retailers have lost millions of dollars in sales since Missouri’s adult-use launch, according to quarterly reports and earnings calls.

Top executives at New York-based multistate operator Ascend Wellness Holdings, which has two shops near the Missouri border, cited revenue declines at its southern Illinois stores in recent earnings, saying it has led to suppressed margins that are expected to linger for much of the year.

Florida-based MSO Jushi Holdings, which also operates two Illinois stores near the Missouri border, reported an 8.8% year-over-year revenue decline to $66.4 million in its second quarter, partially attributing the slide to adult-use sales in Missouri.

In an Aug. 11 second-quarter earnings call, Jushi CEO James Cacioppo said total Illinois sales declined 20% from the first quarter and 40% year-over-year.

“I think we under-anticipated the pricing power initially out of the gate that retailers were going to have in Missouri,” Jushi Chief Strategy Director Trent Woloveck told MJBizDaily in an interview.

“The impact was a little bit greater than then we had thought due to that pricing for flower, vapes and infused products.”

In response, Jushi has implemented several initiatives, including adding new promotions and diversifying product SKUs (stock-keeping units) to ease the impact of declines sales in Illinois.

Northern exposure

Market dynamics in northern Illinois, particularly along the Wisconsin border, are a different story.

Wisconsin is among 10 states without a medical or recreational marijuana program.

Illinois counties bordering Wisconsin – including Lake, McHenry, Jo Daviess and Winnebago – accounted for 15.4%, or $239.7 million, of the nearly $1.6 billion in cannabis sales last year in the state, according to a fiscal analysis requested by pro marijuana-legalization lawmakers in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau report, which was released in March, cited annual statistics from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Moreover, the report estimated about 7.8% of marijuana sales in Illinois in 2022, roughly $36.1 million, were generated by out-of-state residents traveling from Wisconsin.

Under Illinois law, out-of-state residents can only purchase recreational cannabis.

Two of Chicago-based multistate operator Cresco Labs’ 10 stores in Illinois are located near the Wisconsin border: a Sunnyside outlet in South Beloit at the border and one in Rockford, about a 30-minute drive away.

The South Beloit store often draws up to 1,000 daily visitors, according to Cresco’s national retail president, Cory Rothschild – traffic on par with the nation’s busiest marijuana retailers in highly populated areas.

It’s all the more impressive, considering that South Beloit has a population of roughly 8,000 and is more than 40 miles from Madison, the nearest city and Wisconsin’s state capital.

“It’s an extremely high-volume retail location,” Rothschild told MJBizDaily.

“South Beloit and Rockford as well are probably (among the) top dispensaries in the country.”

Maryland

Maryland is the newest recreational cannabis market, with nearly 100 medical marijuana dispensaries having converted to adult-use retail in late June.

While LeafLink wholesale data suggests about a 10% increase in wholesale product purchases statewide after the launch of adult-use sales, some retailers along Maryland’s south and eastern borders are doubling orders to meet demand.

In Elkton, near the Delaware border, stores are ordering about $41,000 in wholesale products per month, up 115% since the launch of recreational sales on July 1.

In the Rockville/Germantown area – outside of Washington DC and near the Virginia and West Virginia borders – monthly wholesale purchases have increased about 42%, to $54,000 per store, since recreational sales began.

Though MMJ dispensaries opened in West Virginia in 2021, the state still has some of the harshest marijuana laws in the country, according to the Marijuana Policy Project.

Meanwhile, Virginia’s adult-use rollout has been put on ice by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

MSO MariMed’s wholesale business serving retailers in Maryland has benefited from increased demand from neighboring states, according to Jeff Jones, director of operations.

“We have retail customers that are very close to Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and I’m sure that’s driving a significant amount of their business,” he said.

The Massachusetts-based company supplies every retailer in the state with its product brands.

MariMed is planning to double its cultivation and canopy space in Maryland, with product from that expansion expected to hit the wholesale and retail markets in the first quarter of 2024, Jones said.

Its retail operation in Annapolis – the state capital is about a 45-minute drive from Pennsylvania or West Virginia – hasn’t experienced the same type of uptick from border business but is still performing well, according to Jones.

A tale of two borders

The small town of Sunland Park, New Mexico, has racked up outsized sales since the state launched recreational retail in April 2022.

The sparsely populated bedroom community is situated across the border from El Paso, Texas, and Jaurez, Mexico, which have a combined population of more than 2.2 million.

That purchasing power has helped Sunland Park’s 88063 ZIP code top the state for per-capita adult-use spending, a sales metric that divides dollars spent for cannabis by population.

Per-person recreational marijuana spending in Sunland Park was $1,044, according to an MJBizDaily analysis of data from the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department.

Its 88063 ZIP code also houses two of New Mexico’s leading cannabis stores.

Ultra Health and Everest Cannabis Co. generated nearly $6.1 million in combined sales from August 2022 to February 2023, according to MJBizDaily research.

Because business has been so strong at that Sunland Park store, Ultra Health last summer opened an adjacent location that handles only online orders for pickups.

The majority of its 42 stores were strategically aligned to capture business along New Mexico’s more than 600-mile border with Texas, the second-most-populated state.

“I would say half our business is Texas-related,” Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez told MJBizDaily.

As part of that strategy, the company is planning to open an outlet in Lordsburg with hopes of drawing customers from Mexico, Texas and Arizona.

Mexico border towns share more than commerce, including family, culture and language.

Some residents own commercial properties and homes on either side of the border.

And residents tend to travel freely between Juarez, El Paso and Sunland Park to shop, dine and visit friends and family, according to Rodriguez.

Many also buy regulated marijuana, which might come as a surprise to some industry watchers, especially those unfamiliar with border business in the Southwest.

Though transporting licensed cannabis across the U.S.-Mexico border is barred under federal law, it’s fairly common, industry insiders tell MJBizDaily.

“The product is intended to be consumed within the state of New Mexico and should not cross state or international boundaries,” Ultra Health’s Rodriguez advised.

“The reality is some consumers cross these boundaries intentionally or by not being fully aware of the risk and prohibition.”

Sales in other border communities, such as Clovis and Hobbs – where Ultra Health also has stores – are also outpacing the field, another sign that Texans, and some Mexicans, are crossing the border to purchase marijuana from New Mexico marijuana retailers.

Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/border-sales-a-boost-for-most-cannabis-retailers-across-us/

Blogs

Cannabis Art Is Flourishing On Etsy

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2023

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Although there is an available and thriving market for cannabis art, most e-commerce websites and platforms prohibit artists from selling art that depicts cannabis.

Is there any section or industry without cannabis influence? It’s starting to look like there isn’t any, as, throughout history, cannabis users have displayed their creative capabilities in various ways. And now cannabis art is flourishing on Etsy

Cannabis users and enthusiasts are some of the most innovative people you’ll ever meet, and their inspiring works of art have been admired for decades. Most of the works created by cannabis enthusiasts have also sparked debate for centuries, dating William Shakespeare’s times.

Cannabis and the creative arts

Research has shown a fantastic connection between cannabis and creativity, an intriguing relationship that is attributed to the plant’s remarkable properties. Cannabis interacts with the human brain through the endocannabinoid system and receptors in the brain.

Extensive works of research show that creative prowess and imagination heighten when users consume cannabis, thus enabling divergent and distinct thought patterns. Hence the reason great men and women like Maya Angelou and Louis Armstrong celebrated the impact of cannabis on their creative careers.A more significant percentage of the creative industry is also full of trailblazers who have affirmed that cannabis is a significant influence on their success. For such artists, marijuana inspires the way they hone their crafts and showcase their ideas.

Despite such a show of artistic brilliance, some artists struggle with finding a place to showcase their works. Why is this the case? Why can’t artist showcase their cannabis-inspired art?

The problem with finding a market showcase

Although there is an available and thriving market for cannabis art, most e-commerce websites and platforms prohibit artists from selling art that depicts cannabis. Some of these merchant shops also flag items such as CBD paraphernalia and insist that such things cannot be sold.

With such restrictions, creative artists fail to get an adequate space to share their creations with the world. Artists feel shut out of the market space, and then COVID-19 happened.

The Coronavirus Pandemic made everything worse for cannabis artists and businesses to maintain operations, which created a disturbing gap in the market.

The Solution: A cannabis-themed marketplace

As the challenge became increasingly worse, two outspoken cannabis advocates co-founded an online marketplace called The Artsy Leaf. Space was set-up as a multi-vendor marketplace to make it possible for artists to display their works.

The co-founders Abbey Weintraub Sklar and Rebecca Goldberg discovered that there were many international craftsmen, women, and artists with products that weren’t shared on any platform. The artists’ products are unique cannabis-friendly items that were mostly scattered on censored tech platforms that limited their exposure to the world.

Goldberg and Skylar understood the importance of an online vendor marketplace created for creators and buyers in the cannabis industry. COVID-19 and its resultant impact was also the inspiration behind an online space.

Initially, it was supposed to be an in-person CBD marketplace, but the pandemic made physical meetings impossible for buying and selling purposes. Hence the reason the co-founders made it an online space with a highly functional website.

The Artsy Leaf

The Artsy Leaf marketplace replaces other online platforms that were too restrictive for those in the cannabis industry. Some of those unfriendly sites didn’t provide room for tagging, describing, and listing CBD products, making it difficult for artists to advertise their products.

But with the Artsy Leaf marketplace, vendors and small business owners have maximum freedom to advertise their cannabis items. The platform also incorporates advertising with SEO consulting and doesn’t hide its processing fees.

The co-founders maintain that their desire to help all cannabis vendors succeed drives the marketplace. The website launched with an initial 14 vendors, and with its viable operational approach, more vendors are expected to join this revolutionary idea.

A virtual cannabis marketplace is what the world needs right now to bridge the gap between artists and buyers. Cannabis-inspired pieces will always remain relevant globally because of how unique and disruptive they can be. The Artsy Leaf is the right incubation place for ideas, purchases, and value exchange.

The future of the online marketplace

The future of the online cannabis marketplace for artists looks promising, and why is this so important? Well, cannabis is gaining a lot of momentum in America, with more states legalizing marijuana more people will gain access to weed, and when they do, they may be inspired to create unique art pieces or be looking to purchase unique cannabis inspired works.

Either way, the cannabis world needs an outlet for artists to share their works, and this is where platforms like the Artsy Leaf become crucial. Other online platforms may start to look into adjusting their policies regarding this issue because this sector is about to explode.

It is time to change the current status quo on the other E-commerce sites not allowing cannabis artists to showcase their genius.

Bottom line

The world is awakening to the ever-increasing potentials of cannabis. Through marketplaces like the Artsy Leaf, cannabis artists and art lovers can meet, interact and sustain the cannabis industry.

Without platforms like these, cannabis-inspired art will gradually decline, and that isn’t good for the cannabis industry at all. We must all continue to encourage the establishments of platforms (online and offline) where artists can thrive. Budding cannabis artists need more places to express themselves, and the Artsy Leaf is a suitable platform.

If you are a cannabis-themed artist, an aspiring one, or a small business owner and you struggle with promoting your work, you can visit The Artsy Leaf.

Source: https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabusiness/cannabis-art-is-flourishing-on-etsy/

Blogs

Beer Lingo, A Guide To Becoming A Better Patron

Published

1 year ago

August 24, 2023

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Bars are wondrous places full of beer, chatter, celebration, ways to get drunk and opportunities to meet friends. But they are also tricky. As with most niche scenes, there is lingo you need to know, terms you should memorize and slang with which you should show facility. What’s Imperial mean? How do you pronounce “weisse?” And how much should I tip my bartender? Hang on, because you’re about to find out the answers to all of these. Here is your beer lingo, a guide to becoming a better patron. BTW, the Slavic word ‘beer’ came from the verb ‘to drink’. Initially, beer was any kind of drink.

Hops

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Small green pine cone-like buds that grow on vines. Their oils and acids preserve and flavor beer.

Hoppy

The thing snobby people refer to about beer, and what people who hardly ever drink beer say they don’t like. Hoppy is often used as a synonym for the word ‘bitter,’ but there are plenty of beers that use loads of hops and don’t taste the least bit bitter.

Malt

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The sugars used to sweeten beer.

Malty

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That syrupy, sweet flavor in beer drunk by amateurs.

Perry

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A cider-like drink made exclusively with pears.

Imperial

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A word out in front of certain beer styles (Stout, IPA) meaning they’re much stronger.

Mead

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Beer produced from honey, water and yeast.

Ale

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Ale is brewed using a warm fermentation method, resulting in a sweet, full-bodied and fruity taste. It is a maltier, top-fermented beer.

Lager

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A beer that is effervescent and light in color and body. it is a dry, bottom-fermented drink.

IPA

Stands for India Pale Ale because it was originally brewed in the United Kingdom and shipped to British soldiers in India during colonization (which is still basically happening). It is made with more hops, to give it a stronger flavor. There’s no standardised threshold at which a pale ale becomes an IPA, though.

Cask-Conditioned

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The process in which a draught beer retains yeast to enable a secondary fermentation to take place in a cask in the pub cellar. Cask conditioned beer is the traditional drink of the British pub, and served properly, it can be among the most subtle and beguiling of beer types.

Fresh Hop

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Beer made with recently picked hops that haven’t been dried. It provides distinctively grassy, plant-like, and “green” flavor profiles without the bitterness associated with IPAs and other beers featuring copious dried hops.

Weisse

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Pronounced ‘Vice’ is the counterpart in German for “white,” most commonly used in reference to the sour Berliner type of beer, but also sometimes to the Bavarian type, as in weissbier. Weizen is the German word for “wheat,” most often applied to the Bavarian wheat beer style.

Microbrew

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Compared to macrobreweries, which produce millions of barrels per year, microbreweries produce a relatively small amount of beer—between 1,000 to no more than 15,000 barrels annually. But aside from their size, what makes microbreweries special is that they’re known for brewing specialty beers.

The type of beer you do not use for beer pong unless you make more money than your bartender.

Pint

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The size of glass most beers are served in, and also the thing you dropped and smashed when you were trying to text your Uber driver.

Dive Bar

The kind of bar you actually really like going to, unless you’re trying to impress a date or a friend. It is typically a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style drinking establishment with inexpensive yet strong drinks; it may feature dim lighting, shabby or dated decor, neon beer signs, packaged beer sales, cash-only service, and local clientele

BTW, the strongest beer in the world has a strength of 67.5%. It was created in 2017 by the Scottish brewery Brewmeister. The beer is called Snake Venom

Pickup Line

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The thing you should never say because it never works.

Tip

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The amount of money you give a bartender after a transaction, which should be more than you initially think to give because A) most bartenders are relatively poor and deserve dough, and B) if you tip a lot you’ll be remembered C) if you tip too little you’ll be remembered D )

How do you want to be remembered?