Many people still view the climate crisis as a minor shift in temperatures. Yet hundreds of thousands of studies argue otherwise. The crisis already touches nearly every aspect of human life, animal life, and ecosystems. A recent article in Nature highlights beer as one collateral victim of climate change, warning that continued trends could sharply reduce the hops needed to brew beer and the very bitter compounds that define its taste over the next thirty years.
Research led by the Czech Academy of Sciences lays out several projections. Within the current climate trajectory and expected European climate patterns, aromatic hop production could fall by 4% to 18%. At the same time, key aromatic compounds responsible for the beer’s distinctive bitterness could decline by 20% to 31%.
Spain faces a potential 35% drop in hops production
The regions most affected include Spain, which could see hop yields drop by as much as 35% in a matter of decades. Germany and Slovenia are highlighted as notable players in both the hop and beer industries, underscoring the scale of the challenge across Europe. In recent years these countries have been at the forefront of global hop and beer production.
historical loss
The analysis also tracks how Europe’s major brewers have adapted to shifting conditions. Losses in productivity linked to the climate crisis are already evident, and the harvest patterns of hop plants reveal the longer term impact. The team led by Martin Mozny notes that since before 1994 hop ripening now begins about 20 days earlier, while average yield has declined by nearly 0.2 tonnes per hectare each year.
hop ripening now begins 20 days earlier and yields have fallen by about 0.2 tonnes per hectare per year
Last year, several producer associations warned about drought driven losses exceeding 30 percent. The report also considers how the changing climate could complicate the cultivation of certain hop varieties and, as a result, affect the availability of flavors sought by many beer brands. These developments touch brewing traditions and the choices made by brands that rely on specific hop profiles.
Looking ahead, experts are calling for a concrete plan to protect hop crops and safeguard beer supply in the face of climate pressures. Suggested steps include planting hop varieties that demonstrate resilience to extreme weather, refining cultivation practices, and improving irrigation methods. Protecting crops from heat, drought, and volatile temperatures emerges as a central priority for growers, brewers, and policymakers alike. It is in this context that industry leaders emphasize the value of proactive research, adaptive farming techniques, and coordinated regional action to maintain hop stability and beer quality in a shifting climate. study and regional agricultural boards provide the core data for these projections and recommendations.”