Summer is geology field camp season, and young geologists are spending their days mapping and examining the various geologic features of our country. In the evenings, it’s time for cold beers and geology-talk around the camp fire. Geology and beer, like bees and honey or peanut butter and jelly, go hand in hand. A particular geologic study, volcanology, is most important to beer drinkers. Beer-loving non-geologists take note, and befriend a geologist, because volcanoes and beer are more related than you might think. American beer drinkers should care about one volcano in particular: the majestic Mt. Rainier.
Craft beer drinkers and enthusiasts are likely familiar with names like Willamette, Cascade, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, Tahoma and Yakima Gold as they are types of hops used in a variety of craft beers as well as names of places in the Pacific Northwest. Indeed, the Pacific Northwest plays a significant role in world hop production. The USA accounts for 39% global hop production – a $249M industry, and according to the USA Hops 2013 Statistical report, 99.9% of US hop production and acreage is located in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Washington alone accounts for 76% of US hop production. The Pacific Northwest is second in the world in hop acreage (35,224), but first in the world in pounds produced, about 69M pounds, rivalling Germany.
But there is a potential hop shortage in the Pacific Northwest, due to the possibility for severe volcanic activity. We all know about Mt. St. Helens and its eruptive history, but most people do not realize the Pacific Northwest is loaded with active volcanoes and that Mt. Rainier is one of the most dangerous. It has very large summit glaciers which have the potential to produce profoundly destructive volcanic mudflows called lahars. Even a small eruption from this stratovolcano could melt the glacial ice to produce a lahar that could wipe out a large portion of US hop production. To make matters worse, the groundwater in the volcano is acidic which has weakened the entire western flank of the mountain, which could cause it to collapse. Moreover, as magma moves into the volcano, subsequent earthquakes may cause a massive landslide on the western flank.
Although there is no need to live in fear of imminent eruption, it might be a good idea to befriend a geologist, they should be able to give you a heads-up on Pacific Northwest volcanic activity and you can prepare for the subsequent great hop shortage.
Sources:
USA Hops 2013 Statistical Report. Hop Growers of America. Released January, 2014. http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/234/71500/2013_Stat_Pack.pdf
Geyer, Allison. Increased Demand has area farmers growing hops. Lacrosse Tribune. July 30, 2013.
Tier, Nick. Homebrew and history expert, 2016.