Fort Myers Sees First-Ever Federally Approved Hemp Beer on Tap

Downtown Fort Myers is drawing attention this week with the debut of what local operators describe as the first federally approved hemp-based beer to be sold in the city, now available at Seed & Bean Market in the River District.

The beer, marketed under the PureNative label and known as Caloosa Kush, represents a rare crossover between the craft beer world and the federally regulated hemp industry. According to the brewers behind the project, the product received formula and label approval at the federal level, allowing it to be legally sold as an alcoholic beverage containing hemp-derived ingredients.

Federal oversight of beer products falls under the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which requires special formula approval for beers made with non-traditional ingredients, including hemp. Under current federal rules, any beer made with hemp components must demonstrate compliance with the Controlled Substances Act, including the absence of THC beyond legal limits.

Importantly, the hemp beer being served at Seed & Bean Market is not a cannabis-infused intoxicant in the way many consumers might assume. The brewers state that the product contains no THC and no CBD, meaning it does not produce cannabis-related psychoactive effects. Alcohol remains the sole intoxicating ingredient.

Local coverage indicates the approval process took nearly two years and involved multiple rounds of recipe development, testing, and regulatory review. While hemp-derived beverages have become increasingly common nationwide, most fall under non-alcoholic or functional beverage categories. Alcoholic hemp beers, by contrast, face a higher regulatory threshold, making federally approved products in this category relatively rare.

Seed & Bean Market, located in downtown Fort Myers’ River District, has positioned itself as a café-style marketplace blending coffee, food, and hemp-focused retail. The addition of a federally approved hemp beer aligns with the business’s broader mission to showcase compliant, adult-oriented hemp products in a controlled setting.

Customers who have sampled the beer describe it as smooth and citrus-forward, closer to a hazy pale ale than a traditional IPA. Market staff say curiosity has been a major driver of early interest, with many patrons asking questions about how the beer differs from THC or CBD drinks commonly found in dispensaries or smoke shops.

The launch also comes amid increased scrutiny of hemp products in Florida. State lawmakers and regulators have been moving to tighten enforcement around hemp-derived items that contain intoxicating cannabinoids or that resemble candy and snack products marketed to minors. While those rules do not directly affect hemp beers that contain no THC or CBD, they have heightened public awareness around what is—and is not—legal under state and federal law.

For Fort Myers, the release highlights the city’s growing role in hosting niche food and beverage innovations that sit at the intersection of agriculture, cannabis regulation, and craft brewing. While distribution of the hemp beer is currently limited, the brewers have indicated plans to expand availability across Southwest Florida if demand continues.

As with any alcoholic beverage, the hemp beer is restricted to adults 21 and older. Local officials and business owners alike emphasize that compliance and transparency remain central as hemp-adjacent products continue to evolve.

For now, Seed & Bean Market’s new tap offering is less about intoxication and more about novelty—giving downtown Fort Myers another reason to draw both locals and visitors curious about what’s next in the rapidly changing hemp marketplace.