Texans have a reputation of doing everything in a big way and home brewing is no exception with many of the Dallas home brew supply companies working overtime to attempt to have a large enough supply of hops to meet the current demand. With over half of the acreage dedicated to growing hops lost in the last 15 years, the amount of hops on the market has fallen making it difficult for many of Dallas home brew supply companies from being able to supply some of the favorite aroma hops to their customers.

Since it takes at least two years for a new crop of hops to produce a usable crop, it will probably be at least five years before the current hops shortage is gone and growers can supply the Dallas home brew supply market with the product. In the meantime, the prices have gone up more than 10-fold in the last decade for the most important ingredient to the home brew market.

Many commercial brewers use hop extracts that can be stored for years without losing their aroma and taste, but it is not a product aligned with the home brewing market. While another key ingredient often supplied by Dallas home brew supply companies barley, has not been affected by the hops shortage, even though the amount gown in the United States is significantly lower than many other countries.

Aroma Hops Provide Beer's Flavor

When brewing beer as a hobby in the basement or garage, when available at a Dallas home brew supply store, hops is what provides the flavor to the brew. Barley, the grain of choice for making the malt used in home brewing, needs the floral hops in order to make the distinctive taste of different styles of beer.

Having all the ingredients to make home brewed beer is only half the battle for someone who wants to make their own. Most of the needed equipment is also available at any of the Dallas home brew supply shops, but a little bit of knowledge based on experience will also be nice to have. Most owners of these store also brew their own and may be willing to impart information based on their own experiences.

While the freshest hops make the best tasting beer, hops that are processed into plugs or pellets have a longer shelf life and require less room for storage at home or in the Dallas home brew supply shop. The choice is a personal one, based on experience from using both types.