Drought-Hit Hops Crop Could Hurt Beer Prices: Brewers

Despite the craft beer boom, a worsening drought and unseasonably hot weather are causing pain for agriculture in Washington's Yakima Valley and could result in shortages for some popular varieties of hops used in beer, NBC News reported.

Each hops plant requires up to 3 gallons of water per day, and water restrictions that many farmers now face mean it will be a rough summer until harvest.

Michael Butler, chairman and CEO of Seattle-based Cascadia Capital, predicted that there could be a hops shortage starting in 2016.

"You have a shortage of water. You're going to have more demand from the craft breweries."

Contact Us