Hop Shortage

Yesterday was a trying day. I spent the afternoon with hop suppliers and it's more bleak than I thought. Hops are virtually bought up. I was lucky to find a vender who had made room in thier supply for start up breweries, otherwise I'd be S.O.L. This reminds us all the beer just doesn't materialize out of thin air. A farmer needs to seed and care for the hops and malt, good folks in the supply chain need to do the work to get the ingredients to the brewers, and if things are tough(weather/other factors) we(brewers) do not get what we need-simple as that. Raise a pint for those guys & gals tonight. Word.