I keep reading about a real hop shortage in the US. I haven't heard much about a hop shortage in Canada. Anyone hear anything about this here?
King Reign
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Hop Shortage in Canada
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King Reign
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Hop Shortage in Canada
"Coors Light Drinker?, Youv'e Been Assimilated"
I have also heard of a big hop shortage and not just in the US. I have been told by various brewers and brew pubs owners that they have been warned to stock up now because the price will be increasing as crops get harder and harder to obtain.
Not surprisingly, I assume that beer prices will then rise a bit to reflect the new cost of the hops.
But at least Toronto city council aren't going to be doing the liquor taxing now.
Not surprisingly, I assume that beer prices will then rise a bit to reflect the new cost of the hops.
But at least Toronto city council aren't going to be doing the liquor taxing now.
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King Reign
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http://probrewer.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=8916
Be prepared to pay more for your favorite big PacNW IPA"The hop world is upside down. In the future we see the possibility of brewers shutting down for lack of hops."
For US hops 2007 is looking like an average crop, but not a bumper crop.
Slovenia (grower of Styrians) lost at least 1/3 and possibly as much as 1/2 of their crop to a hailstorm.
The Czech crop is down 25% this year. Estimated alphas on Czech Saaz from the 2007 crop are 2.7 2.9.
The German crop is average at best with earlier aroma hops coming in below normal (such as Hallertau Mittelfruh).
New Zealand and Australia crops this year (which arrived in the US in June and July) were normal.
England is almost out of the hop business. Their acreage of 2,400 in 2006 (down from 17,000 in 1976) represents 2 percent of the worldwide acreage.
World acreage:
1986: 215,600
1992: 236,000
2006: 123,000
The demand for Cascades is up 30% this year alone. We are 300-400 acres short on Cascade compared to where we need to be. Cascade acreage was 1,003 in 2001, jumped up to 2,120 in 2003 (because one major brewer announced plans to use it, but then reversed course) and total Cascade acreage is now back near the same 2001-year-level, at 1,116 in 2006.
Prices are the highest they've ever been - and it's beyond comprehension. Cascades were priced at $7/lb. three weeks ago and are currently being quoted at or near $10.00/lb. Willamettes went from $5.50 to $7.00/lb. and may also get to $10/lb.
Aventinus rules!
When I ordered my rhizome's in the spring, "Left Fields" in BC had a catastrophic failure with their Centennial & issues with their cascade as well. I didn't get any details though.
http://www.crannogales.com/farm.html#hops
By the way, my Mt. Hood grew like crazy but didn't flower. The cascade looked pretty lame, but I did get 8 buds from them, so hopefully they'll work out in the second year.
http://www.crannogales.com/farm.html#hops
By the way, my Mt. Hood grew like crazy but didn't flower. The cascade looked pretty lame, but I did get 8 buds from them, so hopefully they'll work out in the second year.
Last edited by Derek on Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I can see how this will affect only the smaller independent craft brewer because the big guys don't use these top flight materials...they still use the cheapest stale bread and sawdust they can find....will they take advantage of the shortages causing craft beer increases and hike their price....or try an old fashoned demand economics ploy by keeping their beer the same price to gain customers switching from "expensive" craft beer ??PRMason wrote:Be prepared to pay more...period. Malt is slated to increase by 50% in the coming year. Hops, for example Cascade, went from $2.60 U.S.per pound to around $12.00 per pound, if you can get any!
Aventinus rules!
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grub
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even more unfortunate, i heard that the "big players" who are buying this stuff by the truckload are going to see very little price difference, and most of it will be passed on to the little guys - the independent craft brewers and homebrewers. so the difference between the crap and the craft prices will grow, and there will be less incentive to make your own.pootz wrote:I can see how this will affect only the smaller independent craft brewer because the big guys don't use these top flight materials...they still use the cheapest stale bread and sawdust they can find....will they take advantage of the shortages causing craft beer increases and hike their price....or try an old fashoned demand economics ploy by keeping their beer the same price to gain customers switching from "expensive" craft beer ??
i'm certainly not brewing to save money, but it was an attractive bonus. that said, unless ontario gets a massive influx of new beer (yeah right), i'll just have to put up with it.
The CBC has a report on the hop shortage on its website this morning:
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/1 ... rtage.html
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/1 ... rtage.html
The British press has begun to pick up the hop shortage story. This piece from the Guardian suggests that a pint could rise to the equivalent of $8. It also points out that higher crude and aluminium prices are also hurting brewers:
"The average price of a pint of beer could hit £4 after poor weather forced up the price of hops. Scottish & Newcastle today forecast "material price increases" next year. The brewer, which sells three of the top 10 beer brands in Europe including Kronenbourg and Foster's, is also reviewing its supply chain in a bid to cut costs.
Industry experts say the cost of an average pint will rise by at least 15p, although some are now predicting rises of up to 60%. According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the average price of a pint of lager is £2.50, with bitter fans paying around £2.20. A 60% hike would take the average cost of lager to £4 and that could be even higher in some bars...
...The warning of a rise in the cost of a pint coincides with new from the BBPA, which represents the brewing and pub industry, revealing that 14m fewer pints are being sold in pubs each day. Major British brewers saw their profits fall by 78% between 2004 and 2006. The BBPA says the industry is being further hampered by the Treasury which claims 33p out of the cost of every pint.
Last week a source at S&N warned that the price increases would be "way above the rate of inflation" as it tries to recoup losses from higher cereal, crude oil and aluminium prices, according to pub trade paper the Morning Advertiser."
"The average price of a pint of beer could hit £4 after poor weather forced up the price of hops. Scottish & Newcastle today forecast "material price increases" next year. The brewer, which sells three of the top 10 beer brands in Europe including Kronenbourg and Foster's, is also reviewing its supply chain in a bid to cut costs.
Industry experts say the cost of an average pint will rise by at least 15p, although some are now predicting rises of up to 60%. According to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the average price of a pint of lager is £2.50, with bitter fans paying around £2.20. A 60% hike would take the average cost of lager to £4 and that could be even higher in some bars...
...The warning of a rise in the cost of a pint coincides with new from the BBPA, which represents the brewing and pub industry, revealing that 14m fewer pints are being sold in pubs each day. Major British brewers saw their profits fall by 78% between 2004 and 2006. The BBPA says the industry is being further hampered by the Treasury which claims 33p out of the cost of every pint.
Last week a source at S&N warned that the price increases would be "way above the rate of inflation" as it tries to recoup losses from higher cereal, crude oil and aluminium prices, according to pub trade paper the Morning Advertiser."