Worrying about the lack of…beer say brewers in Belgium because of the weather, but the Belgian media are wondering if this could happen in practice and are putting the facts on the table.

“Lack of beer? Poor barley harvest worries some brewers” is the title of an article in the newspaper “Le Soir”. As the report points out, this year, heavy rains that fell from July 22 compromised the quantity and quality of barley harvested since then, leading some brewers to fear a possible “degradation” of the barley. “In free fall for many years, barley crops are the subject of a 2017-2027 strategic recovery plan launched by the Walloon government to meet the demand of the country’s growing number of breweries – especially craft brewers. Since its implementation, the area of ​​these crops has more than quadrupled, reaching almost 1,130 hectares, cultivated by about a hundred farmers for the 2021-2022 season,” said Wallonia’s Minister of Agriculture, Willy Borsos.

The regulating effect that the weather will play is also highlighted by the producers’ body, which brings together representatives of farmers, public authorities and actors in the agricultural sectors of Wallonia. He emphasized, however, that a possible shortage or increase in prices – which anyway fluctuate permanently – should only be felt within ten to twelve months, because the grains must undergo various technical operations (cooling, drying, etc.) before the process reaches the malt for sale to brewers. The impact on the prices of the barley market as a whole should also be limited, given the chronic moderation in the volume of the Belgian harvests, further reports the body of producers. A possible shortage will no doubt force some Belgian brewers wishing to use domestic barley to switch to French barley, which could lead to exemptions from the criteria for awarding certain labels. Nevertheless, according to estimates, there is no shortage of beer to be expected.