Indiana craft breweries feel pinch with hops shortage

INDIANAPOLIS – With an increase in craft breweries and a slow recovery from a huge fire that wiped out about 25 percent of the hops supply, hops prices are going up.

They’ve increased so much in the past five years that Sun King Brewing Company co-founder and head brewer Dave Colt says they’ll likely have to raise beer prices soon for the first time since it opened.

Colt agrees as Hoosiers turn to more to craft beers and more breweries open, this is a great thing for Indiana and the beer industry. He does say, though, that something needs to be done to increase hops production.

Hops are what give beer bitterness, flavor and aroma. They’re added to boiling water in the beginning phase of beer production in different stages. There are countless different varieties, but several that are the most popular. Colt says since he co-founded Sun King, hops have raised in prices anywhere between 75 percent and 100 percent.

It seems that farmers are taking notice of the new cash crop and Indiana is seeing hops farms pop up.

Wednesday, 24-Hour News 8 is headed to Three Hammers Farm in Knightstown. It’s a farm that ever since it popped up can’t stay stocked. Their inventory is flying out the door.

Colt says another hops farm is opening in Lebanon and will soon be taking orders.

Colt says not only would it be great to make beer that is completely made from Indiana products, but it just may be the solution to the hops prices and shortage.

Tune in to 24-Hour News 8 on WISH-TV at 6 p.m. for more perspective from the hops farm.