Global warming set to trigger horror beer shortage in Europe, scientists warn

DAILY STAR

Global warming is set to trigger a shortage of beer.

Those ales that will be available are likely to be more expensive – and less tasty. The quantity and quality of hops – a key ingredient in most beers – are being affected by climate change, according to a new study.

Hop yields in Europe will fall by up to 18% by 2050 if farmers do not adapt to hotter weather, researchers have warned. While the alpha acid content in the hops – which gives beers their distinctive taste and smell – will fall by around 30%.

That spells bad news for ale lovers who will struggle to get hold of pricey, less tasty beer – the world’s third popular drink behind water and tea. Premium and craft ales are likely to be most badly hit.

Miroslav Trnka, of the Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences said beer drinkers will ‘definitely’ see the effect of climate change ‘either in the price tag or the quality’. He said: “That seems to be inevitable from our data.”

Beer is made by fermenting malted grains such as barley with yeast. It is usually flavoured with aromatic hops grown that are sensitive to changes in light, heat and water.