Drought conditions could trigger a hop shortage - leaving beer drinkers crying into their pints as costs increase. Brewers have already been hit by huge cost increases for malt, electricity and carbon dioxide.
They now face a supply shortfall when crops are harvested. Charlie Gorham, of hop merchants Charles Faram, said: “Temperatures in the UK and across Europe are putting pressure on the hop crop.
“Plants are well behind where they should be and are showing signs of severe heat stress. Harvest is due to begin and without rain there will be light yields.”
