Poor hop harvest is unlikely to raise beer prices for now

Germany’s hop harvest has been exceptionally poor after heat and drought, but beer prices are not expected to rise for now, BR reported.

Growers are also facing lower prices because this year’s crop contains fewer bitter compounds, known as alpha acids. They have struggled to pass higher energy costs on to breweries, while the shift to more climate-resilient hop varieties has stalled.

In the Hallertau, Germany’s largest hop-growing region, there were 46 hot days between May and August, while rainfall totalled 250 litres per square metre, about half the usual amount, said Adi Schapfl of the Association of German Hop Growers. Germany harvested 34,400 tonnes of hops this year, around 20% less than in 2025. Schapfl described the result as “extremely poor”. German hop growers lost about a quarter of their income, and hop cultivation became unprofitable for many farms.

The poor harvest is not expected to have an immediate effect on beer prices. Breweries still have substantial stocks after good harvests in recent years, and hops remain usable for a long time when stored as pellets or extract, Schapfl said. Despite the crop losses, the market is considered oversupplied, so growers are not benefiting from the usual link between a poor harvest and higher prices.

The growers’ association is urging breweries to use varieties that need less water and fertiliser. These varieties have been grown for about 10 years, Schapfl said, but breweries have not widely adopted them, and cultivation has even been scaled back. Walter König of the Bavarian Brewers’ Association said brewing with new varieties takes more effort and consumers are accustomed to the taste and aroma of established beers. He said any change would need to be gradual. The report noted that greater pressure may be needed before breweries make wider use of climate-resilient hops.