More Expensive Craft Beer

Malting barley producers in North Dakota, Montana, Alberta and Idaho have seen their harvest plans dashed on the rocks by continuous heavy rainfall during the growing season that has prevented harvesting. I called Kelly Olson, Administrator of the Idaho Barley Commission and asked about what was going to happen to craft beer production and prices. "Typically the craft brewers prefer two row malted barley that is produced in Idaho and Montana. It was an unusual situation, monsoon will rain events in Idaho. We rarely ever see anything like that. Rarely if ever have crop loss to sprout damage at harvest, 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 and that will push prices much higher. So I had better race to the store and buy a big stock of craft beer, right? Well there is always the argument about wanting fresh beer so I am not necessarily advocating that. Will it affect beer prices, yes.