Beer Lovers Beware: Climate change is coming for your favorite brews

By Christina Lorey

March 26, 2025

DID YOU KNOW? Beer is the world’s third most-consumed beverage, behind water and tea, and is the world’s most popular alcoholic drink.

But beer lovers beware: Climate change could make your favorite drink much more bitter.

Here’s why: An overall change in temperature will affect the quality of hops used to make beer, which will ultimately change the flavor, according to a new study published in Nature.

European beer-producing regions are projected to experience up to an 18% reduction in their yield of traditional aroma hops by 2050 and up to a 31% reduction in hop acids that are key for bitter flavoring, researchers found.

Beer is typically made with water, malting barley, and yeast for flavor, as well as hops, which contain compounds called alpha acids that give beer its unique bitter aroma and affect its quality.

What does this mean for you? One of two things: a more bitter-tasting beer, or a more expensive pour.

However, this is nothing that new. Climatologists have been warning of this for a while now.

MORE: How a Wisconsin craft beer became available halfway around the world

Author

Christina Lorey

Christina Lorey is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and former UpNorthNews newsletter editor. She previously worked as a producer, reporter, and TV anchor for stations in Madison and Moline. When she’s not writing or asking questions, Christina volunteers with Girls on the Run, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and several mental health organizations.

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CATEGORIES: FOOD AND DRINK

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