THC seltzer can now be served on draft in Minnesota taprooms, and one brewery has already jumped on it.

Minnesota is now the first state to explicitly allow taprooms to offer THC beverages on draft, like any other craft brewery offering.

A state law went into effect July 1 that allows hemp-derived THC beverages on draft, expanding options for patrons and brewers beyond the aluminum cans that have become increasingly popular in the last two years.

The law allows edible cannabis products consumed as beverages to be served outside of packaging if all information required on the packaging is posted or otherwise displayed by retailers.

HeadFlyer Brewing in Minneapolis may be the only taproom currently offering THC on draft. The product takes a week to manufacture, including testing; with a tap line available, HeadFlyer was ready to offer its first draft seltzer on day one, said Taproom Manager Dan Schnabel.

"Beer is always gonna taste best in a keg versus in a can or in a bottle, and I would say the same thing with THC," Schnabel said.

Its Maui Wowie Punch is one serving of THC served in a 10-ounce goblet for $6.

For consumers, the law change helps to normalize consuming THC beverages, said Bob Galligan, government relations director of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild.

"The ultimate goal of us working on this language is taking away the stigma of consuming THC, especially as a beverage, and kind of opening the doors for people who do consume THC ... seeing it actually poured on tap and to actually be served it in a pint alongside their friends who are consuming beer," Galligan said.

Offering THC beverages on tap may appeal, he said, to the two types of consumers who have emerged since the beverages came onto the market in 2022: those familiar with THC dosage and often drink in bars and restaurants, and the cannabis-curious consumer who is more comfortable imbibing at home.

Allowing curious customers to try a smaller serving size, for example, further broadens access to the beverages, Galligan added.

Many customers coming into HeadFlyer looking for a THC beverage haven't yet heard of the draft option, Schnabel said. HeadFlyer still sells more canned drinks, as there are more flavor options and a larger serving available, but people opt for draft when they hear about it. They are selling about five to 10 seltzers a day so far and expect to rotate flavors, Schnabel said.

Some brewers remain cautious since the law is still so new, Galligan said. Because the seltzers are non-alcoholic, the alcoholic pH level that makes beer food-safe is not present, which creates a need for more frequent cleaning of tap lines.

For smaller brewers, draft THC gives them a chance to enter a market they may be otherwise locked out of due to cost. The aluminum cans found in taprooms and stores remain expensive post-pandemic, Galligan said.

Galligan said he hopes the change will "drive down some of the pricing. ... If you're not paying for all that extra [canning], you don't have to actually charge the margins for it."