Culture

Does Washington's Drought Spell Doom for Hoppy Beers?

Keep calm and drink on.
Kzenon/Shutterstock.com

Who doesn’t want to kick back with a brew during a heat wave? One snag: reports that a drought in Washington State is wreaking havoc on hop harvests.

Washington accounts for 73 percent of the country’s hop acreage, so a low, drought-stricken yield could be disastrous for hoppy beers and the people who love them—right? Michael Butler, chairman and CEO of Seattle-based investment bank Cascadia Capital, told NBC News: "The consumer will pay a higher price for beer. That is without question."