Climate change could make beer taste worse in the future
A new study shows that the amount of European hops, which give beer its characteristic bitter taste, is declining.
Hotter and drier summers are likely to worsen the situation and make beer more expensive.
Hops are a crucial ingredient in brewing Beer as they are added during the cooking process to add bitterness and alcohol content.
The boom in the craft beer industry is increasing the demand for beers with distinctive strong aromas has driven the use of high quality hops, BBC News reports.
However, scientists from the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the University of Cambridge, studying the average yield of aromatic hops, found that there was a decline in production of almost 20% between 1974 and 1994 and between 1995 and 2018.
What is the cause of the hop decline?
Scientists attribute the decline in harvests to drier conditions in recent years – probably due to climate change.
Martin Mozny, co-author of the paper and researcher at CAS, said: “If we do not adapt, the viability of hop farming will be threatened in some areas. The result will be lower production and a higher price for brewers.”
BBC News added: “The scientists also found the alpha bitter acids in hops – which influence this Beer The flavor had diminished due to the higher and more extreme temperatures.”
The study predicts that bitter acids will decline by up to 31% by 2050.
Beer is a staple of European culture. Billions of pints are sold in the UK every year. However, this could be affected if current trends in global warming and climate change continue.
Farmers have worked to adapt their farming methods to increase yields, but scientists warn more investment is needed.
