jokosr
10-28-2007, 05:15 PM
http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/282423.html
Brewing industry faces rising costs on several fronts
By SHANNON DININNY
The Associated Press
SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- Fans of Snipes Mountain Brewery's cloudy Hefeweizen relish the subtle wheat flavor of the bright, summery brew, and like beer drinkers everywhere, they know when their favorite brew tastes a little too hoppy or bitter.
Connoisseurs could be in for a surprise this year, and they may not be alone.
Small brewers from Australia to Oregon face the daunting prospect of tweaking their recipes or experimenting less with new brews thanks to a worldwide shortage of one key beer ingredient and rising prices for others.
Oh, and one other thing: Beer prices are likely to climb.
"I'm guessing, at a minimum, at least a 10 percent jump in beer prices for the average consumer before the end of the year," said Terry Butler, brewmaster at central Washington's Snipes Mountain.
Sales have been relatively flat in recent years among the country's big three brewers -- Anheuser-Busch, Molson Coors and SABMiller -- while small, independent brewers have experienced tremendous growth. Now the brewing industry is facing mounting costs on nearly every front. Fuel, aluminum and glass prices have been going up quickly over a period of several years. Barley and wheat prices have skyrocketed as more farmers plant corn to meet increasing demand for ethanol.
Big brewers can hedge against rising prices for raw ingredients and can negotiate better, longer-term contracts for ingredients, while smaller brewers generally are left with whatever is left.
Snipes Mountain saw its barley malt prices grow 10-15 percent this year, and paid $12.35 per pound for Cascade hops, far beyond the $5.60 per pound allotted last year.
Those rising prices and, in some cases, shortages, may force Butler to rethink his lineup of 13 beers in the months ahead.
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I will have to stop playing GEwar so I can get a part time job !!...Part time to pay the bills....Full time to pay for the BEER!!! :'(
Edit..for too many o's
Brewing industry faces rising costs on several fronts
By SHANNON DININNY
The Associated Press
SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- Fans of Snipes Mountain Brewery's cloudy Hefeweizen relish the subtle wheat flavor of the bright, summery brew, and like beer drinkers everywhere, they know when their favorite brew tastes a little too hoppy or bitter.
Connoisseurs could be in for a surprise this year, and they may not be alone.
Small brewers from Australia to Oregon face the daunting prospect of tweaking their recipes or experimenting less with new brews thanks to a worldwide shortage of one key beer ingredient and rising prices for others.
Oh, and one other thing: Beer prices are likely to climb.
"I'm guessing, at a minimum, at least a 10 percent jump in beer prices for the average consumer before the end of the year," said Terry Butler, brewmaster at central Washington's Snipes Mountain.
Sales have been relatively flat in recent years among the country's big three brewers -- Anheuser-Busch, Molson Coors and SABMiller -- while small, independent brewers have experienced tremendous growth. Now the brewing industry is facing mounting costs on nearly every front. Fuel, aluminum and glass prices have been going up quickly over a period of several years. Barley and wheat prices have skyrocketed as more farmers plant corn to meet increasing demand for ethanol.
Big brewers can hedge against rising prices for raw ingredients and can negotiate better, longer-term contracts for ingredients, while smaller brewers generally are left with whatever is left.
Snipes Mountain saw its barley malt prices grow 10-15 percent this year, and paid $12.35 per pound for Cascade hops, far beyond the $5.60 per pound allotted last year.
Those rising prices and, in some cases, shortages, may force Butler to rethink his lineup of 13 beers in the months ahead.
.................................................. .......................................
I will have to stop playing GEwar so I can get a part time job !!...Part time to pay the bills....Full time to pay for the BEER!!! :'(
Edit..for too many o's