OMG: Not the beer?

[53-12]

For the lovers of a good brew, read on:

Looming Worldwide Beer Shortage Another Effect of Global Warming
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 04.10.08
Food & Health


Photo credit: dyobmit

A perfect storm is brewing, coming together with the potential to create a shortage in the world's beer supply. In addition to an ongoing hops shortage, which we first reported last year, failed barley crops are causing further concern in the beer brewing industry, and we can chalk it up to the effects of global warming.

According to Jim Salinger, a climate scientist at New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, the warming globe will likely cause a decline in the production of malting barley, which, when combined with the scarcity of hops right now, stands to have a profound and negative impact on the world's beer supply starting now, and for decades to come.

"It will mean either there will be pubs without beer or the cost of beer will go up," Salinger told the Institute of Brewing and Distilling convention. Though Salinger spoke only of the direct effects on Australia and New Zealand, similar effects could be expected worldwide. He said climate change could cause a drop in beer production within 30 years, especially in parts of Australia, as dry areas become drier and water shortages worsen.

"It will provide a lot of challenges for the brewing industry," even forcing breweries to look at new varieties of malt barley as a direct result of climate change, Salinger said.

Yikes. Beer drinkers are already paying for it, in places like Portland, Oregon, and beer brewers like the Boston Beer Company are changing their brewing practices and even selling off some of their hops to other small breweries.

Though there's been at least one case of global warming helping beer production in a small (and kind of silly) way, the warming globe is also negatively affecting whiskey production and could yield explosive results elsewhere; in short, as Salinger said, “It’s already happening and will get worse." So savor your next pint and read more at ::Beverage World and the :aily Star

See also: ::German Biofuels Incentives Drive Up the Price of Beer, ::Microbreweries Hopping Mad Over Biofuels and ::Global Warming Beer: Greenland Brews with Melting Ice Cap

[Kid A]

recently read a cool story about how Sam Adams brewing is sharing hops or something to competitors to keep us less thristy. nice little tribe the beer industry has just like mtb. OMR would be so proud

edit found article...

Jim Koch sent a big old hops valentine to smaller breweries on Thursday. Ten tons worth.
He told them that Boston Beer, brewer of the Samuel Adams beers, will sell 20,000 pounds of hops that otherwise would not be available to smaller breweries. The company will sell the hops at its cost, which is considerably less than they would bring on the open (or “spot”) market.
Koch revealed the offer to Brewers Association members Thursday in a forum for association members, telling them:
“For a couple of months now, we’ve all been facing the unprecedented hops shortage and it’s affected all craft brewers in various ways. The impact is even worse on the small craft brewers — openings delayed, recipes changed, astronomical hops prices being paid and brewers who couldn’t make beer.
“So we looked at our own hops supplies at Boston Beer and decided we could share some of our hops with other craft brewers who are struggling to get hops this year.”
The brewery will sell 10,000 pounds of East Kent Goldings from Great Britain and 10,000 pounds of Tettnang Tettnanger from small farms in the Tettnang region in Germany. Both are “aroma hops,” horribly under appreciated and the kind being dissed by brewers chasing alpha, but at the same time becoming crazily expensive.
Samuel Adams will limit the amount sold to any one brewery in order to assure as many as possible get hops.
“The purpose of doing this is to get some hops to the brewers who really need them. So if you don’t really need them, please don’t order them,” Koch wrote. “And don’t order them just because we’re making them available at a price way below market. Order them because you need these hops to make your beer. We’re not asking questions, so let your conscience be your guide.”
This is explained in the “Hop-Sharing Program” area at the Samuel Adams website (you will have to verify your age). The FAQ answers most of the questions I’ve been receiving during the day. (These are not “left over” hops for instance; in fact they haven’t even arrived in the country. Boston Beer will be glad to use them if any aren’t claimed.)

[slowrabbit]

Very concerning! I think I should start growing hybrid HOPS that can create higher alcohol creating enzymes!