26 OCTOBER 16-22, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | REAL ESTATE | RENTALS | HEALTH WELLNESS | SERVICES | EMPLOYMENT | ADULT | MUSIC | CLASSIFIED | A handful of newly discovered cultivations and strain drops have been keeping our stashes full and heads in the clouds. From the return of old favorites to a newly dis- covered cultivation in Nederland, here are fi ve things to look for at Colorado dispensaries this fall. Viola’s Return to Colorado Viola, a cannabis brand founded by former Denver Nugget Al Harrington, used to be head- quartered in Colorado, but the multi-state brand ended its extraction operations and focused on other states a couple of years ago when Colorado’s cannabis recession started to hit. Viola reps said it would be back in Den- ver dispensaries soon, though, and they were eventually proven right this spring, when I fi rst came across Viola fl ower at the now-closed A Cut Above. Although Viola was more known for hydrocarbon extraction during its fi rst Colorado run, the vast majority of products I’ve seen on dispensary menus have been fl ower with an occasional blip of live rosin. After try- ing strains like Apricot Scone, Blue Zushi and the Yams, I can confi dently place Viola in the upper-middle class of cultivations, with buds that are too dense for my liking. But the smell, fl avor and price point – usually around $20 an eighth – were all solid, and each Viola strain I’ve tried has displayed individuality and clear effects. If you’re tired of sketchy ounce deals but can’t afford a premium $40-plus eighth, give Viola a look. Bakery Brothers Behold, another quality grower for Joe Six- Pack. But seriously: It’s nice to see good fl ower being sold for less than $30 an eighth, which is exactly what the Bakery Brothers have been up to in Denver, with interesting strains to boot. Based in Nederland, this craft cultivation is operated by brothers Cassidy and Roberto Or- tiz, both of whom have decades of experience around the plant. I was immediately drawn to the Bakery Bros’ cut of Pre-98 Blue Dream, a mix of Blue Dream and Pre-98 Bubba Kush. The purple, starry buds caught my eyes, for sure, but the strong representation of classic couch-lock genetics told me to look for more. The next time I came across them, I was in the mood for something to slap me in the face with potency, and the Double Runtz backcross more than answered the call. I’m excited to see what comes out of the oven next. THC-Infused Eucalyptus Oil Smoking weed feels good and all, but who doesn’t need a rub-down every once in a while? The spray bottles used by Mother Earth Concepts make the brand’s THC-infused eu- calyptus oil easy to apply on targeted spots. According to founder Maryanne Zucal, in- tended uses of Mother Earth’s spray include sore muscles and joints, certain skin issues and even moments of aromatherapy. I can’t com- ment on the veracity of all the claims, but the oil did feel good on sore muscles after I lifted weights for the fi rst time in three weeks, and my shiny, conformed beard doesn’t seem to mind the infused oil, either. The spray is available at a growing number of dispensaries in Colorado, which you can view on Mother Earth’s website. Allgreens Flower As heady extraction labs come and go in Colorado, Allgreens has remained strong in South Denver. The dispensary-hashmaking outfi t off South Kalamath Street pumps out some of the best deals on primo rosin in the country, and now it’s stepping into the fl ower game. Priced at $50 an eighth post-tax, the fi rst drop of pre-packed fl ower, the timeless GG#4, was a little lacking in the smell and fl avor departments. However, it also glued me to the living room sofa and contributed mightily to the 2,500 calories that entered my stomach that night, so I still walked away more impressed than not. With more time and space to allow a proper cure for harvests, Allgreens should produce even more exciting drops going forward. Return of Hazelnut Cream I was crushed to see so much top-tier fl ower and rosin offerings leave dispensary shelves after the Verde-Dablogic umbrella shut down, and Hazelnut Cream was near the top of the list. The creamy, funky brie of a weed strain was a mainstay at Verde’s now-shuddered dispensa- ries, and Dablogic did a helluva job at squeezing out Hazelnut Cream’s fl avor profi le for rosin jars. After a few weeks of mourning, however, I was pleased to see that Denver-based Malek’s Melts had attained Hazelnut Cream genetics from Dablogic, and it’s already dropping goopy jars of Hazelnut Cream rosin. The creamy, sour funk is there, and so is the knockout high. Send questions to [email protected]. Hazelnut Cream is a beloved strain among cheeseheads and funk-lovers. THOMAS MITCHELL H I G H N O T E S BY THOMAS MITC HELL
