Ego Clash and the Hash Culture
Photos Courtesy of Author
Recently, I visited Northern California for an event, not far from where the next Ego Clash was being held. I had heard of this invite-only event judged by peers to see who has the best hash in the game, where people come from all around to compete, and the competition is fierce!
Ego Clash was being held in Hopland, California, about 2 hours from where I was staying. As I was walking to another event, someone mentioned that they were letting women into Ego Clash for free, so I decided I needed to go. This was something I’ve wanted to attend for the last year!
I took a screenshot of the address and mapped it out on my phone. A few people in my group said they wanted to check it out too so we started devising a plan.
What is Ego Clash?
Hosted each year by 3rd Gen Family Farms, Dying Breed Seeds, and Moonshine Melts, the aptly named Ego Clash is a competition amongst peers to find the best flower, full-melt, and hash rosin in the industry. “There’s egos there for sure, but the ego is what is pushing everyone to get better at their own craft,” said one participant.
It all started as a pre-party for the Emerald Cup to help bring people in the industry together. Brandon from 3rd Gen came up with the idea to host “a gathering of like minded people who love hash - growers, hash makers, and enthusiasts alike.” The large indoor/outdoor venue has 4 different areas, or “houses” as they were named: the Hash House, the Glass House, the Flower House, and the Cave. Spread over a scenic farm that spanned around a large pond, there were plenty of golf carts to shuttle you where you wanted to go if you got tired.
To enter the gates, plan on bringing a toy to donate to their kids’ toy drive. Truly a testament to the spirit of the cannabis community, this toy drive filled a 20 foot truck with toys for kids all over the world.
Right as I walked in, I recognized a few people who greeted me, and immediately became immersed in all things hash. Everywhere I looked, people were gathered at tables with their exquisite glassware and isopropyl alcohol. Dab tools dipped into delicious hash honey, glistening with pure trichomes.
After I took my first dab of some Rakkems hash I picked up the day before, I began to realize that my friends had all wandered off in the process, and I was the only female at the table. I was used to being severely outnumbered as a woman when it comes to hash heads, but I deduced the reasoning behind letting women in for free! Throughout the day and into the night, I discovered more places to explore and more hash to discover, most often with a small handful of women compared to the number of guys, everywhere I went. The best music was at the Glass House, where I found NikkaT spinning tunes and vibing with the crowd, along with some beautiful glassware to check out.
In order to get an invitation to compete at Ego Clash, you have to be invited by the event organizers. If you have a social media presence and a large following, you will likely get their attention. Invites are sent via DM and a follow up email with your tickets. There are no fees to compete, but you’d better bring the heat!
Once you get there with your entry, you are then subjected to the “jar pop” test. If it doesn’t “pop” you get cut from the list of entries. Over 40 samples in the rosin category alone are judged during the course of the day on look, smell, melt, taste, and experience. And don’t forget your Battle Buddy! You will need an extra person to ensure you are still standing at the end, not to mention needing someone to fill in so you can take a bathroom break or grab some food from the numerous tasty grub stations.
The Winners of 2023 Ego Clash
Once the judging was complete and the results had been tallied, everyone was ushered into the Cave, where the awards ceremony took place. Every single award was a beautiful work of art made by talented glassblowers. Functional pieces such as dab rigs, pipes, and dab tools were handed out to the top 3 winners in each category.
This was a heartfelt gathering of people in the community who love hash and have a story to tell. It shines a light on those people and their stories, and creates awareness for their brands - a coveted award that gives some serious clout. Just sitting at the table and being invited to come is an honor in and of itself. Congratulations to everyone who participated and shoutout to the Ladies who ran the table!
Winners in each category are:
Best Outdoor Flower:
1st Place: Terp Mansion - “Lemon Cherry Gelato”
2nd Place: Ridgeline Farms - “Lantz”
3rd Place: Xotic Flavorz - “Hawaiian Snow Cone”
Best Indoor Flower:
1st Place: Anudai Farms - “Eddy’s Lemon”
2nd Place: Maine Trees/Cipher Genetics - “Blue Lobster”
3rd Place: Tornado Terpz (LA Hash) - “Zkittlez”
Best Hash Rosin:
1st Place: Yeti Melts - “Optimus Lime #8”
2nd Place: Pure & Proper - “Kamikaze + Z Mix”
3rd Place: Jah Botanist - “Asian Pear”
Best Full Melt:
1st Place: Trichome Tortoise - “Ze Boof”
2nd Place: Passion 4 Hashin - “CDLA6 + Starburst OG”
3rd Place: The Real Cannabis Chris - “Guapa Empanada de Pina”
