We have bad news for hoppy beer lovers. A new study in the science journal Nature shows how climate change can affect the quantity and quality of hops, an essential ingredient in beer. Temperature increases and precipitation decreases are affecting hops, and that could impact both the price and taste of your beer.
By 2050, the study predicts a four to 18 percent decline in hop yields and a 20 to 30 percent decline in what's known as "alpha content." Hops have varying levels of alpha acids, and the higher the alpha content, the more bitter a beer will be.
With the rising popularity of craft beer, consumers have been deviating from low-alpha beers for years. Many people now prefer beers with the flavors and aromas associated with high-quality, late-summer hops, according to the study. Since these high-quality hops grow in small regions that must have the right environmental conditions, the study investigated whether production will be affected by climate change.
Researchers looked closely at the high-quality aroma hops in Germany, Czechia, and Slovenia and saw a "significant production decrease" in European hops from 1971–1994 and 1995–2018, in addition to a decrease in alpha content. Additionally, the study found that the growing season started 13 days earlier, which has had a negative impact on the quality of the hops. And with droughts projected to increase in southern and central Europe, the researchers say that the area in which aroma hops grow will have to increase by 20 percent to make up for a decrease in their alpha content.
So, what does this mean for your favorite beers? A decrease in hop yield could make them more expensive for breweries, which means a pricier beer for you. And if the quality of the hops is affected, there could be an unavoidable change in the taste of many beers, too. But only time will tell.
