Thirsty for a Hoppy Beer? Brace Yourself for the Climate Crisis Impact!
Hops in key beer-producing European nations are ripening earlier and yielding less since 1994, impacting the beloved bitter flavor cherished by IPA enthusiasts The climate crisis poses a significant threat to the future of hoppy beers
Since 1994, scientists have discovered that hops in major beer-producing European countries such as Germany, Czech Republic, and Slovenia are maturing earlier and yielding less. This poses a concern for IPA enthusiasts worldwide as the hops are also losing their essential bitter element. According to researchers, the situation is expected to deteriorate further. By 2050, hop yields could decrease by as high as 18%, and their alpha acid content, responsible for the bitterness in beer, might decline by up to 31% due to hotter and drier weather conditions. A study published on Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications highlighted these alarming findings.
The findings contribute to an expanding range of things that are endangered by the climate crisis, which many people overlook, according to Miroslav Trnka, a co-author of the study and a researcher at the Global Change Research Institute.
"One of the secondary objectives of this study was to demonstrate the importance of climate change even to those who believe it is insignificant," Trnka told CNN. "We are witnessing significant changes that are impacting things that we hold dear, such as the flavor of beer. Climate change can indeed influence it, or at the very least, impact the key ingredients necessary for its production."
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Coffee is under threat, and Starbucks is actively searching for solutions. The study highlights that beer brewing has a long history dating back to 3100 BC. However, the vital components of modern-day beer, namely water, barley, yeast, and hops, are now at risk due to the effects of global warming.
Douglass Miller, a senior lecturer in food and beverage management at Cornell University who is not part of the study, expressed no surprise at how the extensive impact of climate change is affecting numerous agricultural crops. Miller further mentioned that hops, being delicate plants, may face potential crop failures. Consequently, brewers may be compelled to explore alternative flavor profiles derived from different varieties of hops.
Using weather data and climate models, researchers examined the impact of climate change on European hops from 1970 to 2050, taking into account decreased precipitation and increased temperatures.
According to the study, scorching temperatures have already caused the start of the hop growing season to shift by 13 days between 1970 and 2018. Previously, new shoots would typically emerge during spring, but since 1995, they have been observed to appear earlier in the analyzed regions.
This early onset triggers earlier harvests, which could make it more difficult for hop growers to schedule harvesting and processing operations.
A tractor drives through a hop field in Germany.
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In recent times, an increasing number of consumers have shown a preference for beer aromas and flavors that demand hops of superior quality, as per the study. However, due to their exclusive cultivation in limited regions, researchers suggest that these hops are further exposed to heightened risks from heat waves and droughts triggered by climate change.
Mark Sorrells, a professor at Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science, who is not involved in the study, stated, "Hop farmers have already been relocating hop fields in response to changing temperature and precipitation patterns, and this trend is expected to continue."
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Consumer preferences for craft brews with aroma hops may shift as growers adjust, according to Sorrells. Though the study only analyzed major hop-growing European countries, which represent almost 90% of the aromatic hop fields in the continent, Trnka believes it is applicable to beer-producing regions in the US, like the Pacific Northwest, where unusually frequent and intense heatwaves are becoming more common.
"The European countries and these regions are encountering comparable issues, albeit with slight variations in timing and frequency. Climate change is progressively impacting both areas in highly similar manners," Trnka stated.
Trnka mentioned that beer continues to be one of the most universally consumed beverages worldwide. Even in a warmer future, individuals will still find methods to produce it - although its taste may undergo alterations.
