Province Brands of Canada Achieves Major Patent Milestone

Province Brands of Canada (Province Brands), a leading technology development company in cannabinoid science and the developer of first of their kind luxury beverages powered by cannabis, is proud to announce today the issuance of a patent in the United States for a novel strain of yeast designed to improve the company’s first-of-its-kind process for the fermentation of hemp and cannabis.

The invention, a strain of Scheffersomyces (Pichia) stipitis (S. Stipitis), already on file with the International Depositary Authority of Canada, is a novel proprietary technology which will allow the Company to more efficiently convert the stalks, stems and roots of hemp and cannabis plants into fermented beverages. The company also has patents pending on its proprietary brewing and production process.

Nearly every commercially produced brewers’ yeast has been specifically selected to ferment sugars from seed or fruit of cereal grasses (barley, wheat, rice, etc.), or pure sugars, but were not developed to effectively achieve full fermentation of cannabis stalks, stems and roots that characteristically have less carbohydrates. The patented strain of S. stipitis, however, enables Province Brands to achieve a complete fermentation from cannabis stalks, stems and roots, lowering the costs of production.  In addition, the yeast themselves produce abundant flavor compounds and allow the creation of signature recipes for novel fermented adult beverage products.

The company now plans to launch the commercial production of its signature hemp beer in 2021.  In style, it will be a crisp, light pilsner type of beer with a hint of citrus.  Initial market research and testimonials from investors and current beer consumers indicate that potential consumers of the company’s first product are quite impressed and looking forward to its commercial availability.

Province Brands also plans to continue research in this area with the University of Western Ontario (UWO).  This collaboration is designed to create more yeast strains that provide superior business solutions to Province Brands and its licensing partners.  The team’s target is the creation of recombinant yeasts with combined genomes and phenotypes of yeasts that can ferment 5-carbon sugars (predominantly xylose) as well as add appealing flavors to the final fermented beverages.  Province Brands and UWO, as well as the overall brewing community, is firmly united against genetic modification (GM), especially for an authentic hemp-brewed beer.