Blue Moon creator Keith Villa will launch his cannabis beer next month

Ex-Molson Coors brewer and the man who made Blue Moon — Keith Villa — is about to bring his latest project to market; a non-alcoholic beer infused with cannabis.

Called “Grainwave”, the beer, which is produced by Villa’s new beverage firm Ceria, is a Belgian-style white ale with infused with 5mg of THC — the psychoactive component in cannabis.

It is a “fresh, medium-bodied ale with blood orange peel,” according to the company, and will be available in cannabis dispensaries in Colorado — where the drug is legal —  from December, with plans to roll it out in California and Nevada next year.

Villa, who announced his retirement from US drinks giant Molson Coors in January 2018, launched Ceria in April; a company “dedicated to the creation of custom and cannabis-infused non-alcoholic craft beer.”

Keith and Jodie Villa (Photo: Ceria)

Ceria makes non-alcoholic beers infused with THC, the psychoactive chemical compound present in cannabis, in a variety of strengths.

Two more beers will be rolled out in 2019, according to the brewing boss, and offered in a further two strength levels which offer a “variety of sensations,” according to the website.

Ceria is working closely with Ebbu, a cannabinoid research firm also based in Colorado which has developed a set of formulations that “inspire specific sensations.”

Edibles sales — which include cannabis beers and wines — are on track to reach more than $4.1 billion by 2022, according to figures from a report on the burgeoning edibles category jointly published by two of the sector’s research firms; Arcview and BDS Analytics.