Biz Buzz: Bad Habit Brewing leads local THC beverage push

ST. JOSEPH — A local brewery is on top of the cannabis beverage trend. St. Joseph-based Bad Habit Brewing introduced its THC beverage products in October.

“It’s been really good," Bad Habit owner Aaron Rieland said. "We’ve had pretty good success with it so far."

This comes as the THC beverage market size is projected to grow from $3.09 billion to $117.05 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. The report points to the growth of consumers seeking an accessible way to consume THC, as well as healthier, low-sugar and low-alcohol beverages.

“It’s obviously a trend, more people are drinking THC, so it made sense for us, especially since nobody else is doing it here,” Rieland said. Bad Habit Brewing is at 25 College Ave. N. in St. Joseph.

The demand for THC beverage products is high, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. In a report, the department said cannabis users eating or drinking edibles sharply increased after hemp-derived products were introduced to the legal market in 2022. That number rose from 3.6% in 2018 to 20% in 2023.

There were more than 3,000 retailers selling hemp THC drinks in Minnesota nearly a year ago, according to Bevnet, a media company covering the restaurant and beverage industry.

Making THC beverages is a different — and much shorter — process than brewing beer, Rieland said.

Bad Habit Brewing orders cannabinoids from Superior Molecular in White Bear Lake. That product is then mixed with fruit and water and sent to a testing lab in California.

The THC beverage brewing process takes about a week, compared to the beer brewing process, which takes three to four weeks, Rieland said.

Bad Habit Brewing sells several products that contain Delta 9 (commonly known as THC and psychoactive), CBG (cannabigerol, non-psychoactive) and CBD (cannabidiol, non-psychoactive):

• Key Lime: contains 10 mg THC, 15 mg CBG, 20 mg CBD.
• Tropical Punch: 10 mg THC, 15 mg CBG, 20 mg CBD.
• White Peach: 10 mg THC, 15 mg CBG, 20 mg CBD.
• Cucumber Watermelon: 6 mg THC.
• Tipsy Margarita: 10 mg THC.

The state’s framework for edible cannabinoid products has a maximum of 10 milligrams in one beverage, according to Bernick’s, a Waite Park-based beverage and vending distributor.

Bad Habit Brewing doesn’t serve its products on tap, Rieland said. Instead, the brewing company sells its THC drinks off-sale and at local liquor stores, including:

• Avon: The Store of St. Anna, 37215 Co. Road 9.
• Cold Spring: Teals, 202 Third Ave. S.
• Richmond: Brinky’s Liquor, 60 Fourth St. W.
• St. Joseph: Minnesota Street Market, Food & Art Co-Op, 27 W. Minnesota St.
• Sartell: Westside Liquor, 1001 Second St. S. 
• Sauk Rapids: Sauk Rapids Liquor Store, 312 N. Benton Drive.

For more information, visit www.badhabitbeer.com.

Thermo-Tech, a window and door supplier, sold its Sauk Rapids buildings for $10.06 million as part of new ownership, according to an electronic real estate certificate.

Black Rapids LLC out of Fargo and Bet Toma Properties of Oregon were listed as the buyers of the property at 1120 38th Ave. NE location for $9.6 million.

The two limited liability companies purchased an adjacent property, 1125 38th Ave. NE, for $429,000.

The company will remain operating at its 1120 38th Ave. NE location in Sauk Rapids.

A couple of St. Cloud-based businesses have been recognized as Top Workplaces by USA Today, according to a release.

The list includes Preferred Credit Inc. and Simonson Lumber in the 149-499 employee category.

More than 42,000 organizations participated in the survey. Winners of the award were chosen based on employee feedback through the surveys, the release said.

Preferred Credit Inc. is at 628 Roosevelt Road in St. Cloud. Simonson Lumber is at 535 First St. NE in St. Cloud.