Bitter Brew: Climate Crisis Threatens the Taste and Cost of Beer

The climate crisis is impacting the production of hops, a key ingredient in beer, with major beer-producing European countries experiencing earlier ripening and reduced yields since 1994. A study warns that hop yields could decline by up to 18% by 2050, while their bitter component could decrease by up to 31% due to hotter and drier conditions. Climate change threatens the taste of beer and other commodities critical for production. The study also highlights the vulnerability of other beer ingredients, including water, barley, and yeast, to global warming. The effects of climate change on hops are likely to impact beer production in regions such as the US Pacific Northwest as well.