Posted on 07/06/2007 9:34:18 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
LANCASTER, Pa. -- It's the latest example of the trickle-down economics of ethanol -- beer is getting more expensive.
Compared to this time last year, beer prices are up about 3 percent across the nation, according to the Labor Department. The increase marks the largest jump in more than two years.
One big reason, according to some brewers, is the rising cost of barley. A high demand for corn-based ethanol has many farmers devoting more fields to their corn crop and less to barley.
That has impacted many beer makers, including the Lancaster Brewing Company, which had to raise some prices earlier this year. The cases it sells to distributors went up 50 cents.
But the brewery said so far it hasn't had to hike the price of beer sold at its bar. But it isn't ruling out an increase next year.
"We do feel a little heat of the prices. But comparably the amount of barley in a glass of beer is insignificant. Twenty-five percent is 25 percent. But we've been able to keep control of the cost of beer," said Lancaster Brewing Company brewmaster Christian Heim.
The brewery also blamed last year's hot, dry weather for the shortage of barley.
News 8 contacted Pennsylvania's largest beer maker, Yuengling, but officials would not comment on beer prices.
Ethanol has also recently been blamed for higher, milk, ice cream and pizza prices.
My boys buy all the milk for the family. They drink a lot of it (they’re cereal addicts) and they’ve been really complaining about the cost of it lately.
I just keep telling them, thank the environmentalists.
So the higher price of gas will be still higher, just shifted to another consumer product? Wow, isn’t this just special?
NOW they’ve done it! Don’t even THINK about touching my beer!
Well, Yeungling could just do like Bud and Miller and just add more water...
This is going to anger “Joe-sixpack”
No War for Beer!
Bush’s fault.
Also less high-end corn-fed steak.
the ethanol apologists will be along soon to tell us that:
- It’s not really ethanol that’s causing this
- you don’t understand what’s going on
- ethanol is a super fuel and anyone who says otherwise is a shill for big oil
- even if ethanol is doing this, it’s better than just giving money to farmers for not farming (which the government is still doing)
- even if ethanol is doing this, it’s better than giving money to those evil A-rabs in the middle east (even though they’re still getting their money because ethanol is at best energy neutral)
You bigots just don’t understand. Bow down to ADM and the ethanol lobby!!!! You’ll pay 200% more for your food and beer and you’ll like it, mister!
I personally think more people should take up home brewing so that they'd understand more about beer, enjoy the fruits of their labors, develop a more discerning palate, and save some money. Try Amarillo or Columbus hops. It's pretty easy to brew beer better than the big breweries who use adjuncts like rice in their beer and dumb down the hops to a nearly nonexistent flavor.
The price of pork will take a much higher jump because pork production takes far more corn than beef.
No civilization in history ever survived by burning its food source.
Bread and cheese ain't cheap either.
It’s not just ethanol. Taxes on beer too from the states and feds.
OK, sorry, but somebody had to say it.
A home-brew ping.
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