Hot summer may push up beer prices

BEER may soon cost more after the warmest summer on record caused a national shortage of hops.

- By Ed Chatterton

Farmer and craft beer producer Tom Spilsbury admits his yields are down by up to 60% at Orleton Court Farm, Worcestershire, with reduced crops of Challenger and Fuggles hops proving “exceedingly challenging”.

Some brewers already put up prices when taxes and wages rose in April.

Tom — who runs Spilsbury & Jones Brewing Company - said: “We had a very wet winter.