Climate change poses threat to beer

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Story here. Time to get busy:

Scientists in the Czech Republic have announced that the quality of Saaz hops – the variety used specifically to make pilsner lager – has been decreasing in recent years.

Climate change in the form of increased air temperature is, the scientists say, the main culprit.

According to the New Scientist the team from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute have used data from the past 60 years to research their study. They looked at weather patterns, crop yield and hop quality to make their findings.

The delicate, bitter taste of pilsner comes from the five per cent of alpha acid found in the best quality Saaz hops. The study found that the level of alpha acids in the hops has fallen by 0.06 per cent since 1954. Models for hop quality predict a larger drop in coming years.

A European Commission report has also indicated that hop-growing regions in eastern Germany and central Slovakia are facing similar problems.

Has the time come to stop the climate change bickering and to focus on what needs to be done to save the planet from running out of beer?