My industry sources are telling me that there is another impending hop crisis coming.
Low yields in Washington and flooding in Czech have led to some varieties being in short supply.
It is thought that the speculators will horde hops, even those that are NOT in low supply, and drive prices up again, only to dump hops on the market for top dollar later on. Most likely the varieties that are "hot" right now. Of course some of those "hot" varieties only became hot after the 2008 hop crisis where many micros not on contract (and even some that were) could not get orders filled and were forced to look at alternative varieties.
We'll have to see. But be forewarned.
The low yield US crops are higher in Alpha% (and probably other oils) than normal though. Cold snaps early in the season followed by 108 days of 100F+ dry weather is thought to have stressed the plants into producing oils rather than buds.
Not sure which varieties are in low supply yet.
Low yields in Washington and flooding in Czech have led to some varieties being in short supply.
It is thought that the speculators will horde hops, even those that are NOT in low supply, and drive prices up again, only to dump hops on the market for top dollar later on. Most likely the varieties that are "hot" right now. Of course some of those "hot" varieties only became hot after the 2008 hop crisis where many micros not on contract (and even some that were) could not get orders filled and were forced to look at alternative varieties.
We'll have to see. But be forewarned.
The low yield US crops are higher in Alpha% (and probably other oils) than normal though. Cold snaps early in the season followed by 108 days of 100F+ dry weather is thought to have stressed the plants into producing oils rather than buds.
Not sure which varieties are in low supply yet.