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Beer Shortage Scare Brings Brewers Together

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Apr 2, 2008 12:10 pm US/Eastern

Beer Shortage Scare Brings Brewers Together

Makers Of Sam Adams Beer Sharing Their Hops

BOSTON (AP) ― A shortage of a key ingredient in beer has shown that even business competitors can come together over a cold one now and then.

Boston Beer Company -- the maker of the Samuel Adams brand -- has agreed to share 20,000 pounds of its hops with craft brewers throughout the country.

A worldwide shortage of hops has left smaller brewers unable to buy the important perennial flower that adds some of the bitterness and aroma to beer.

About six weeks ago Boston Beer sent out notifications to small brewers that it wanted to help them by making available some of its hops at cost. The company said it received 352 requests totaling about 100,000 pounds, but was only able to fill 20 percent of those.

Boston Beer founder Jim Koch says the shortage became acute last year when the hops crop came in below average, the third bad season in a row. He says increased beer consumption has also boosted the demand for hops.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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