Microbrewers Facing Hops and Barley Shortages

Photo: Jarek Szymanski / Istock

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The price of your favorite microbrew may rise by as much as $1.50 a six-pack according to an article in the Rocky Mountain News. Hop growers have faced drought in Australia and in Europe, hail storms took their toll on crops. This, coupled with more barley farmers being given federal incentives to grow corn instead for ethanol production, may put a hold on some brews being made altogether or at the very least, the inevitability of tweaked recipes.

Microbrew Masters aren't the only brewers facing shortage problems -- big brewers are also feeling the loss. But, they're better able to hedge against rising costs for hops and barley and can negotiate longer-term contracts for ingredients. Smaller brewers, however, are generally at the mercy of being sold whatever is left.

Add to this the fire at a Washington state hop warehouse last year that ruined up to $4 million dollars worth of crops and you have a recipe for disaster. The U.S. produces 24% of the world's hops with about three-fourths of them coming out of the Yakima Valley in WA.

This predicament doesn’t look anymore promising over the next few years. Many who drink certain beers for their "signature flavor" and "hoppiness" will most likely have to compromise on taste for now as the industry works to improve this situation.

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