“Triangle Mints” - Ryder Farms
If you get to try this sample from Ryder Farms, it’s immediately obvious that this is not just a regular Wedding Cake. Unfortunately, this is a situation where I’ve been asked not to publicize what the clone is, but if you’ve been smoking elite flower in Maine for the last couple of years, the effect and stink will make it pretty obvious.
Trich Beast - Ryder Farms
Ryder Farms had been telling me about Trich Beast and some Solfire hybrids they had been running in their garden, and as like other Solfire strains from recent reviews, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. So far Ryder Farms is batting 1000 with samples and the heat doesn’t end there.
Glueberry - Ryder Farms
Glueberry is another strain I’ve been dying to try from Ryder Farms for a while now, with this one passing me up on a few times as hash and flower. This was another strain that was hyped up beyond belief, and after smoking this and the Sour Glue, it’s really difficult for me to decide which is better.
Sour Glue - Ryder Farms
Ryder Farms has set their stake in the ground, but don’t get it twisted, these guys are not just showing up out of thin air. Sour Glue has been moving around the traditional market from the Maine underground scene, and it’s gotten a reputation from the proverbial beta testers for being truly lethal smoke.
Chem DD - Tread Lightly Collective
I reviewed Chem D from Skunkfoot Farms a few weeks ago and really enjoyed the classic one note Chem, but there are tons of other Chem hybrids out there that are more complex in many traits and Chem DD (“double D”) is one of those. Chem DD is Top Dawg Seeds’ take on adding more complexity to the Chemdog line, and succeeds with its lime juice flavor and a much heavier body effects.
Gary Payton x Sherbanger - Upstate Gardens
I reviewed the rosin version of this strain earlier in the year, but Terpy Dabber hooked it up with the flower version, which I was super hyped to try. I really liked the Zsunami flower I tried from them, so was expecting more of the same type of quality, which for the most part was delivered. Right out of the jar, these nugs are obviously resinous and well manicured.
Gummiez - Shmu the Canna Prophet house curation
Gummiez was a strain I first tried a few years ago when I believe Papermill Cannabis Co. tried his hand at growing it, and I remember enjoying the candy peach rings flavor to it. This version off of Shmu’s curation is quite different, starting with the cinnamon front note, but it retains a lot of the great effect features I love.
Kush Mints - Swell Cultivation
Kush Mints has been a favorite of mine since I tried it the first time about four years ago, so when I get to try an excellent version of it, it’s a real treat. Shmu got in this version from Swell Cultivation in Maine and even when it hit the menu before I saw it, my personal hype meter maxed out. For those unfamiliar with Kush Mints, it’s a hybrid between Bubba Kush and Animal Mints bred by Seed Junky Genetics. It’s a parent in a bunch of my favorite strains, Georgia Pie, Secret Cookies and Zushi to make a few.
Pink Paloma - Tread Lightly Collective
Pink Paloma I think is the true star of Tread’s last run here and a serious winner. Like other Raw Genetics strains, this has been in the zeitgeist for the last couple of years, and tread selected something seriously special. This is a hybrid of Cherry Paloma x Z Pie, and Tread selected this from seed out of only a single pack.
Zsunami - Upstate Gardens
I first learned about Upstate Gardens about a year ago when I went to Not Your Average Fest, and it’s been a mystery since then why it’s not more common on import menus. Terpy Dabber now is stocking their Zsunami flower after he started carrying their rosin earlier in the year, and if I’m being real their flower hits with better first impressions than the already exceptional rosin.
Blue Zangria - Tread Lightly Collective
Tread has been growing some really interesting work in the DMV but so far the most intriguing has been the Blue Zangria, which I’ve been following intently since he popped the seeds. The strain is a hybrid of Rainbow Zangria x Blue Lobster released by Cipher Genetics in collaboration with Maine Trees.
Pure Michigan - Shmu the Canna Prophet house curation
The first time I tried Pure Michigan was the Pure Maryland cut from Flowerboy Gardens back in 2021, and at the time I was impressed by it, only to have progressively worse and worse batches over time. The hybrid is Mendobreath x Oreoz, and obviously I’ve pretty actively avoided this strain because I think it’s just not worth it and has no terps. This time though, I’m grateful the Shmu guys hit me with this version because it’s quite good.
Blue Waffles - Nebula Gardenz
I wrote before about the rising stardom of Nebula Gardenz, and probably the strain of theirs I was the most excited for is Blue Waffles. The name it obviously a catch, but beyond that, these terps are really unique, especially for being a bagseed of London Pound Cake 75.
Death Star x Skunk Dog - Funk House Farm
It’s not a secret that I’ve been pretty impressed with Funk House Farms’ work over the last year or so, and being honest I thought that streak might end with Death Star x Skunk Dog because the eye appeal is just not in the same league as Runtz or Black Maple. That is, at least on the outside of the nugs, which if they weren’t large, golf-ball dense and geode-esque on the innards, would be in scrungly territory.
Red Runtz - Untouchable Genetics
Last year I smoked Untouchable Genetics’ Blueberry Donut, and as Terpy often does, he wanted to show me the new batch to show how much the brand has changed since the last batch. Red Runtz is a strain I’ve enjoyed a bunch of times over the years, and after it won what I think was Ego Clash Barcelona 2023, I got a pack of the S1 seeds from Exotic Genetix myself.
Pineapple Whip - Shmu the Canna Prophet house curation
Pineapple Whip has been showing up on a few menus in the DC area over the last six months or so, and since the people absolutely freak over this strain, I never got to try it. Finally, it’s my turn in the queue and immediately I can see why everyone has been snagging this up expeditiously. The nugs are not the best eye appeal, but you can immediately see how resinous it is.
Chem D - Skunkfoot Farms
I’ve gone on record many times saying Chem D is my favorite of the Chemdog line, and it’s batches like this from Skunkfoot that confirm my bias time and time again. A lot of folks might pass up Chem D and its siblings because the whole offering is pretty one note, but I think a lot of folks forget that Chem D is the original one note genetic and in my opinion it does that trope best.
Mumbo Zauce - Heads of State
This is a pretty peculiar review because I’m covering a product from my own grow, but I put a poll on Instagram asking if I should cover my own flowers, and got an overwhelmingly positive response, so I decided to indulge and give it a write up. For those who’ve missed my posting flurry about this strain over the last few months, Mumbo Zauce is a strain I bred by crossing a selection of Highway Runtz, a “white Runtz” bagseed, with pollen from a Gonzo male, Gonzo being GMO x OZK from Bay Area Seed Co.
Z Pie - Gallo Grown x Hushle
If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past two years you’ve probably seen Raw Genetics’ Z Pie on many menus and probably some podiums. Smokey Bodega’s version won gold in the 2024 Billy Awards, and it’s been on the Don Merfos, Last Frontier and Wildflower Cannabis lineups. But Gallo Grown’s version is on a whole other level. To the uninitiated, this flavor is very similar to a lot of other candies, but with a bit more kerosene and lime.
Runtz - Funk House Farm
If you’ve been reading my reviews for a while, since back in the Gentleman Toker days, you know I’ve smoked a LOT of Runtz. Maybe too much Runtz. So it’s safe to say that when a good Runtz passes by my docket, I know what’s up, and lo and behold, this is that guy.