Calamity!

Catastrophe! Disaster!


I have recently learned about a worldwide shortage of hops that is leading brewers to cut production and raise prices, especially small brewers of specialty beers – but even the major brewers are being hit. They may not use as much hops per gallon of beer, but they brew such a huge amount of beer that their total hops consumption is huge.

This disaster has several causes: two years in a row of bad weather and therefore poor crops in Europe, poor crops in China, and market forces in the United States that have led farmers to plant other crops instead.

The upshot is that when Pat and I went to our favorite brewpub this evening, we found signs announcing that the price of growler refills has gone up, and kegs will no longer be available for purchase.

Alas!