Climate

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but fruit does—and yet, it can be a finite resource. For all the talk of how climate could affect malt and hops, fruit is another raw material of modern beer that’s vulnerable to weather, as well as to supply-chain issues.

Growers, breeders, maltsters, and brewers will need to adapt faster than they have in the past if they’re going to keep up with accelerating change.

Terroir in hops is real. Even the same varieties grown in nearby fields can wind up with different attributes, and beloved varieties can vary from farm to farm and lot to lot. Some drinkers are interested, too—and might pay a premium.