Hops Shortage Threatens Craft Beer
4 Comments Published by Joel December 21st, 2007 in Beer. Share ThisMany farmers in the Pacific north-west, where America’s hop production is concentrated, have turned to more profitable lines—especially corn, which can be made into ethanol. The decrease in hop production, put at some 50% over the past decade, has sent prices through the roof. Brian Owens, the brewmaster of the O’Fallon Brewery near St Louis, Missouri, says that the variety he once bought for $3 a pound (0.45kg) now costs five times that. Many smaller breweries cannot find what they need at any price.
Trouble brewing [Economist]
Don’t worry lads in a couple of years time the price of barley will be so high (as people subsitute it for corn) that they won’t be able to make malt, that’ll lower the price of hops.
Yet another reason corn subsidies need to be removed. Its a amazing racket the gorvernment has created for it’s self, in the fact that even if you suck as a farmer, if you grow corn, no matter what your going to make hundreds of thousands of dollars off a acre of land.
Yay biofuels! Now we can waste even more petroleum AND starve!
Thanks hippies!
What are some good sites to check on brewing your own beer?