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How Hop Nerds Are Saving Your Favorite Beer From Climate Change
Oct 17, 2023
Discover how climate change is affecting hop plants, reducing yields and alpha-acid content. Learn about the strategies scientists and farmers are using to combat these challenges. Explore the impact on the brewing industry and the innovative solutions being explored, such as breeding new cultivars and experimenting with genetically modified yeast. Find out how German brewers are adapting traditional beers to climate change and the potential solutions being explored.
09:20
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Quick takeaways
- Hop production is being significantly impacted by climate change, with reduced yields and alpha-acid content, posing a supply issue for breweries.
- Hop farmers and brewers are implementing various strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as developing climate-resistant cultivars, exchanging techniques, and exploring alternative options like genetically modified yeast and agravoltaics.
Deep dives
Climate change threatens hop production
Climate change is impacting hop production, particularly in Europe, where droughts and extreme heat have reduced yields and the alpha-acid content of hops. By 2050, European hop growers could see a further drop in yields and alpha-acid content. Higher temperatures and droughts affect both the yield and the bitter taste of hops. Lower yields and decreased alpha-acid content pose a supply issue for breweries, leading to potential compromises in beer quality and increased demand for hops.
