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Hop Stocks Continue To Fall

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Technical Brewing Projects Director

Chuck joined the Brewers Association staff in 2013 after a long career as a craft brewer. He opened Tennessee’s first brewpub, Boscos, in 1992. As an owner and director of brewery operations for Boscos Brewing Company, he opened additional brewpubs in Memphis, Nashville, and Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2007, Chuck opened and operated Ghost River Brewing in Memphis. He has served as chair of the Association of Brewers Board of Advisors, chair of the Association of Brewers Board of Directors, and was a member of the first Board of Directors for the Brewers Association. In his capacity as technical brewing projects manager, Chuck works with the Technical Committee and the safety, sustainability, quality, draught beer quality, engineering, and supply chain subcommittees to encourage and facilitate best practices in all phases of Brewers Association members' brewery operations.

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The United States Department of Agriculture announced that inventory of hops held by growers, brewers, and dealers totaled 147 million pounds—down 13% from 2025.

The USDA’s March 2026 Hop Stocks Report marks the fourth consecutive year of declining stocks, down 25% from a record high of 196 million pounds in March of 2022. March stocks are at their lowest level since March of 2018.

The continuing decline in hop stocks represents a major market adjustment. The hop industry continues to adapt to slower beer sales following a period of over planting. While the market is moving towards a better balance, we anticipate that hop acres will continue to decline in 2026, leveling out with perhaps modest growth in 2027.

With planted acreage down nearly 31% from its 2021 peak, availability of certain varieties has tightened considerably. We advise brewers to communicate their future needs to growers and merchants, primarily through the execution of contracts, to ensure availability of specific hops.

Additional Resources

For guidance on contracting for a wide variety of brewing raw materials, visit Contracting for Brewers: Insights and Best Practices.

Do you think you are too small to contract? Learn how even the smallest breweries can benefit from contracting at this session at the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference: Contracting Ingredients to Lower Costs and Improve Beer Quality. Register by April 7, 2026, for Smart Saver Pricing.

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Link to author biography
Technical Brewing Projects Director

Chuck joined the Brewers Association staff in 2013 after a long career as a craft brewer. He opened Tennessee’s first brewpub, Boscos, in 1992. As an owner and director of brewery operations for Boscos Brewing Company, he opened additional brewpubs in Memphis, Nashville, and Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2007, Chuck opened and operated Ghost River Brewing in Memphis. He has served as chair of the Association of Brewers Board of Advisors, chair of the Association of Brewers Board of Directors, and was a member of the first Board of Directors for the Brewers Association. In his capacity as technical brewing projects manager, Chuck works with the Technical Committee and the safety, sustainability, quality, draught beer quality, engineering, and supply chain subcommittees to encourage and facilitate best practices in all phases of Brewers Association members' brewery operations.

See Chuck Skypeck's Articles