Climate change threatens German hop supply and Oktoberfest beer

The recent hot, dry summer, marked by drought and extreme temperatures, has left hop farmers in Germany concerned about the future supply of the key ingredient that makes Oktoberfest possible.

Extreme heat threatens Bavarian hop harvests

Summer 2026 will be long remembered as one of the hottest summers on record. Europe struggled with unusually high temperatures and a severe drought that forced several German cities to restrict water usage.

The heatwave's impact extended far beyond residents struggling to stay cool, with many farmers also beginning to face the realities of climate change. In particular, increasingly hot and dry summers will soon start having a real impact on German hop producers, leaving many forced to plan ahead and find ways to keep crop production at the same level seen today.

The potential impact of reduced hop production could be felt globally, as Germany’s four hop-growing regions together supply approximately 40 percent of global hop production, reports Euronews.

Local region plans 20-million-euro irrigation drive

In Spalter Hügelland, for example, a large irrigation project is in the works where winter water will be stored in a new basin and used during a drought to irrigate up to 400 hectares of hop crops. However, the price tag is steep, expected to reach around 20 million euros, funded in part by the Free State of Bavaria along with the farmers themselves. 

Meanwhile, another local initiative is examining whether barley, also a vital brewing ingredient, can be grown in winter rather than spring, as it is a crop particularly vulnerable to drought. 

"Everyone talks about the weather changing and things getting drier. But what does that actually mean? Among other things, it means that your local brewery is running into problems," explains the project leader André Nebe.

At least in 2026, anyone heading to Oktoberfest shouldn’t worry that the beer will run dry, though future festival supplies and beer prices are far from guaranteed.