Hop contracting remains the single tool allowing craft brewers of all sizes to ensure access to the hop varieties they cherish for their beer brands. Hop growers will only produce the hops you need until you ask them to do so in the form of a 3-5 year contract. Hop contracting rates among craft brewers surged after the disastrous hop shortage of 2007-2008, never falling until the 2017 production year. Veteran brewpub and packaging brewers will share stories that will curdle your blood and make you rethink your hop contracting strategy.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about hop perennial specialty crop and market basics Reveal the perils of going naked
• Learn the imperative of refocusing on brewing in lieu of hop speculating
• Discuss layered contracting and other strategies for successful hop contracting by brewpubs, packaging brewers and taprooms