Time to dust off the brewing apparatus

The average price of a pint of beer could hit £4 after poor weather forced up the price of hops, according to the Guardian.

The newspaper reports the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) as saying the average price of a pint of lager is £2.50, with bitter costing around £2.20.

It says some brewers and industry experts are predicting a 60 percent rise in prices, which would take the average cost of lager to £4 and that could be even higher in some bars.

I’m tempted to say it’s no great worry as I’m not a fan of barley-brewed beers and ales, but that would land in the Other Half’s bad books.

I’m also tempted to point out that even steeper price rises are likely as less barley is planted to make way for biofuels, just as bread prices are rising because less wheat is being planted.

But I won’t. Instead, I’ll offer my own solution that happens to be fun, environmentally friendly and technically interesting.

Go into your loft, your garage, your shed or wherever else you store old detritus and dig out the old brewing apparatus you have stored away.

Clean it up, beg, borrow or buy the bits you need to replace and get brewing.

Start with kit beers, then work your way up to half mash and full mash home brews.

Or, if you’re really adventurous or don’t like barley or wheat beers, take the alternative route and try nettle beer, mangel ale, and the like. Or cider. Or country wines made with soft fruit or vegetables.

Go on, amuse yourself and your tastebuds while safeguarding your wallet.