a worldwide shortage of hops, the ingredient responsible for the IPA’s distinct flavor, and other brewing staples means it costs 50 cents more to enjoy a cold one than it did a year ago.
Since the government has decided to subsidize biofuels, there is a nationwide movement to produce more alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, made from soybeans, and ethanol, made from corn. With more farmers devoting their fields to corn and soybeans, fewer are growing hops or barley, which has pushed the price of grain up dramatically, The price of grain is up, the price of hops is up, the price of energy is up. All of these factors contribute to the fact that beer is more expensive.
Beer numbers
30.5 gallons:
Average amount of beer an American adult drinks in one year.
6.5 billion gallons: Amount of beer Americans consume overall in a year.
5 percent: Average increase in price of beer at a grocery store in the last year.
$28 to $29: Current price that brewers are paying a pound for hops compared with $5 to $8 a pound a year ago.
24th: Illinois’ rank in the country for beer consumption in 2007, consuming 32 gallons per capita in that year.
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Topic: Friday Beer Thread (Read 924854 times)