IPA Prices

In a recent conversation that I had with Kelly Olson of the Idaho Barley commission, I was told that continuous heavy rainfall during the growing season had prevented harvesting. Estimates are that 50 to 60% of the malt barley crop was lost to weather. "In 50 years we have never seen anything like this. Alberta is a big two row malted barley producer, suffered freeze and frost damage so I think when it is all said and done, the North American malt barley crop is going to be much smaller than anticipated. Will it affect beer prices, yes." Being a craft beer lover, I thought my favorite IPA was going to start costing me more than I like. But hold the press. Rob Mullin, who claims that his brewery, Grand Teton Brewing Company, produces more beer than any other competitor in Idaho, says he does not want to raise prices and feels that other Idaho breweries are going to resist raising prices because of so much competition between them. One safety net for Mullin is the fact that he contracted is malt barley prices prior to the disastrous weather. So, to Payette Brewery, Sockeye Brewery, Highlands Hollow Brewhouse... keep up the good work and hold the prices down.