New Delhi: Climate change is impacting the world in numerous ways and now it’s even influencing the taste and quality of one of the world’s favorite beverages, beer. Scientists have raised a red flag, as ‘hops’, a crucial plant responsible for the unique bitterness of beer, is under threat due to changing climate conditions. The sudden change in climate conditions is affecting the quantity and quality of the plant, potentially making beer more expensive and forcing manufacturers to adjust their brewing techniques. Researchers predict a 4-18 per cent drop in hop yields in European regions by 2050 if farmers don’t adjust to the hotter and drier climate. The situation could deteriorate further as summers become hotter, longer and drier.
As per the research published in the journal Nature Communications, this extreme weather poses a serious risk to beer production. In response, hop farmers have been taking measures to adapt to the changing climate. They are relocating hop gardens to higher elevations and valleys, which have better access to water. Additionally, they are investing in irrigation systems to ensure a stable water supply for their crops.
The decline in hop production is due to the increasingly dry conditions in recent years, linked to climate change. Martin Mozny, a researcher from the Czech Academy of Sciences and Cambridge University highlighted that “Failure to adapt will jeopardise the profitability of hop growing in some areas. The consequence will be lower production and a higher price for brewers.”
Over the years, the cost of beer has seen a 13% rise since the COVID-19 pandemic happened in 2020. The researchers further indicate that higher and more extreme temperatures have led to a reduction in the alpha bitter acids of hops, which influence the flavour of the beer. Despite initiatives taken by governments around the world to combat climate change, greenhouse gas emissions from human activities majorly contribute to rising temperatures.
The Czech Republic holds the title of the world’s top consumer of beer, as reported by Japanese beermaker Kirin. Meanwhile, Germany, known for its 500-year-old purity law regulating beer production, hosts the most popular Oktoberfest, which attracts more than six million beer enthusiasts from around the globe and the numbers are increasing every year.
The research paper further highlights that beer is the world’s third most consumed beverage, after water and tea. Traditional beer brewing has a rich history in central Europe, dating back to the Neolithic period around 3500-3100 BC. Other than water, malted barley, and yeast, hops, play a crucial role in giving beer its unique flavour.
