Franconian Beer Message Board
What's with the hop prices? |
| Posted by Nick B. on 2008-05-17 03:07:47 |
| I asked Franz Roppelt (Stiebarlimbach) at his Keller about this the other day. I said that I'd heard that the prices went up in the US 500% last year, to which he replied that they've gone up that much in three years here--he pays 35€/kilo for hops now, compared to 7€ in 2005. He says the reason why German hop prices have risen--supposedly, at least--is increased demand in China and Russia, while increases in acerage haven't kept up. It takes 3 years to begin to produce--just like you say--and add in the traditional extra beaurocracy in changing farmland use here...supply just hasn't kept up. Malt prices have doubled in the last...er...I forget how many years he said. My memory of what is said and done during long afternoons at Roppelt's Keller is not always 100% clear. ;) |