Hop Shortage May Change Taste And Cost Of Your Favorite Brewski

BUSINESS 

By Guy Hand

Boise, ID  October 21, 2007 12:21 p.m.

The Northwest is famous for its micro breweries and hand-crafted beers. The region also produces one of the beverages most essential ingredients-hops. But the supply is dwindling.

That could change not only the cost of your next pint, but also its taste. Guy Hand reports.

This is one of those supply and demand stories gone bad. For 10 years, Northwest farmers grew too many hops. Prices plummeted. Farmers grew less. Now micro brewers are having a hard time finding the bitter bud that gives beer much of its character.

Van Havig: "If they can't get the hops that they need, then their beer changes and when their beer changes . . . if that happens people may stop buying their products."

Van Havig is the president of the Oregon Brewers Guild.

Van Havig: People will just say hey, why is my favorite IPA different than it was three weeks ago. And the brewer is going to have to come clean and say well, we couldn't find the hops that we wanted. And you know, that's, that's terrifying for our industry. Terrifying."

The cost of hops has also increased. Havig says that could raise the price of a quality pint by up to 50 cents. The hop shortage may continue for several years.

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© 2007 Boise State Radio