Hop Shortage ..

[braufrau]

So there's a lot of hoopla on the web, all coming from American sites, about the dreaded hop shortage?
Has anyone felt the effects yet in the land of Oz?

I guess we're a little buffered because
a) we don't have a lot of craftbreweries and the megaswill wont be badly affected.
B) the tax sort of acts as a buffer, so increased hop prices mean a smaller % increase per bottle, even
if the absolute increase is the same.

But as homebrewers we'll be directly affected.

Why are americans feeling the pinch already and not us?

 

[Hutch]

Why are americans feeling the pinch already and not us?

I spoke to Ross not long ago about this - he would be a good person to answer...

 

[BoilerBoy]

Have read a few articles on this and it seems that in the US there was an over supply of hops a few years back and the prices mean't that it wasn't profitable to grow them.
The acreage set aside for hop growing was nearly halved with the increase demand of bio-fuels farmers have switched to growing corn because its far more profitable.

On top of all that there has been poor weather and storm damage in some of the major hop growing regions including Europe.

One article I read said some growers are now replanting some hops, but it will takea few years to be able to meet current demand, sadly it was mentioned that it could be at the expense of some lower acid aroma varieties, demand and price for megaswill breweries being the major driving facter.

Cheers
BB

 

[Jye]

Why are americans feeling the pinch already and not us?

Its coming

Have a listen to The BN to here it straight from Ralph Olsen, President of Hopunion.

 

[troydo]

sounds like its wits and saisons on the board then...

 

[Lukes]

Don't forget 4% of the high alpha American was lost in the Yakima Fire (was that a year ago) !

About 4 percent of the nation's total hop yield was lost to fire, as 2 million pounds of the pungent beer-making crop smoldered in a Yakima warehouse….
"This will affect the U.S. market particularly because in some of the varieties, there was a feeling we were already a little short this year," said Ann George, the administrator for the Moxee-based Washington Hop Commission.
Representatives of the Steiner company declined to comment Monday afternoon. The hops, packed in 10,000 bales weighing about 200 pounds each, were probably worth between $1.75 and $2 per pound, based on average prices this year, George said. That puts the fire's monetary damage between $3.5 million and $4 million. Depending on the varieties, the hops' value per pound could be even higher, she said….
About 75 percent of the nation's hops are produced in the Yakima Valley.

edit: typo's

 

[MHB]

I for one, and I am sure other retailers; have been forward-stocking for some time, usually at this time of year I am trying to get rid of the older hops in anticipation of the new season.

This year I am stockpiling the best of the American hops in anticipation of supply problems.

The hops next year might not be the current season hops, but I dont see much problem with supply of the major varieties. If they are well stored I think you will be happy with what will be available.

MHB

 

[Hutch]

Better start getting used to POR in our APA's :lol:

 

[Cortez The Killer]

BYO has an article on the shortage

The general gist is that while it may be hard to get certain varieties - other varieties should keep homebrewers going

http://www.byo.com/feature/1715.html - article

The article also has a good explanation as to why the crisis has come about

I've got just under 2kg in the freezer - hopefully it'll see me through the next patch

260g East Kent Goldings 5.0%
15g Pacific Gem 14%
10g Centennial 9.9%
23g Cascade 5.5%
264g Amarillo 8.9%
230g Hallertau 3.7%
80g Green Bullet 11%
200g Cascade 5.8%
200g Chinock 12.4%
200g Fuggles 6.1%
200g Northern Brewer 6.7%
200g Saaz 3.2%
100g Tetnang 4.3%

Cheers

 

[dig]

My year's worth of new season American hops arrived today. Simcoe, Centennial, Amarillo, Willamette and Cascade. No problem. Prices were even pretty good.

 

[Fents]

Seems the whole family is in a bit of a shortage too...

 

[Canumbler]

Fents: I've heard that's to do with the way the weather's been (hot).
Just hearsay though, no real knowledge.

 

[blackbock]

No shortage of Cluster hops here: My 2007/08 season crop is almost ready!

 

[Fents]

Fents: I've heard that's to do with the way the weather's been (hot).
Just hearsay though, no real knowledge.

maybe.

 

[sah]

BYO has an article on the shortage
http://www.byo.com/feature/1715.html - article

Gruit or Screw It! Good piece. Bon Scott even gets a mention. Back in Green.

We'll survive.

Scott

Ps. Drinking a glass from a 46L batch, 14 IBU (65 gm) with loads of flavour.

 

[Batz]

Relax


This sort of talk puts up our prices ! <_<

Batz

 

[domonsura]

I've felt the effects......just try and get POR atm...... :huh: . According to a couple of very reliable sources (ie: my suppliers) the US micros have come over and taken all the available POR, and there are a few varieties that are a little difficult to get.
I'm of the belief that it's going to get worse before it gets better, but with open minds with regard to hop useage in recipes and not insisting on necessarily using the 'traditional' hop in every recipe and perhaps being a little adventurous, and also applying conservative practices in the amounts we use and the way we use them - ie: use a high alpha to bump the bitterness up and flavour with the lower alpha hops instead of using bucketloads of low alpha's to bitter a brew (as nice as this, and I'm quite guilty of this one too)...we'll get through.
I encourage everyone to branch out and try some of the other varieties,particularly those from NZ. They may not be 'just like the real thing', but they are hops, in good supply, available in flowers, and some of them are absolutely outstanding.

But then again...I'm heavily biased.......very heavily...

 

[sah]

I've felt the effects......just try and get POR atm...... :huh: . According to a couple of very reliable sources (ie: my suppliers) the US micros have come over and taken all the available POR, and there are a few varieties that are a little difficult to get.

Maybe I can auction my POR pellets on eBay for a tidy profit :lol:

 

[staggalee]

but that`s not your fault- you can`t help it :lol:

stagga.

 

[Tony]

i will not be upset if we cant get US hops but the fact that the bloody yanks are using all our yummy POR is a bit of an issue with me.

dont they have pine cones or pine-o-clean to brew with??

if all i can get is Nz hops i will be a happy boy for a long time....... its half of what i use.

cheers