Bruce Littler, who is the head brewer at Northampton-based Frog Island Brewery, is also a director of Kegwatch, an organisation which was set up to tackle beer barrel thefts.

He said: “The problem of keg thefts is absolutely huge for the brewing industry. We reckon that, in the last three years, £75 million worth of kegs have been stolen. It’s the biggest threat to the industry at the moment.

“So I think people are going to have to look at price increases. I’m sure at some point in time it will get to £4 a pint, but not for the next year or so.

“The trouble is, people are nicking these stainless steel barrels for scrap and that will affect prices.”

The average price for a pint of beer currently stands at about £2.20.

As well as the increase in keg thefts, the cost of hops and malt is likely to have an impact on the price of a pint during 2008.

Mr Littler said: “With our last malt delivery we had the price increased by £125 a ton. It went up from £500 to £625, so that’s a huge increase.

“Also, we’ve been warned there will be a 100 per cent price increase in the cost of hops next year.”

The increase in grain prices has been blamed on this year’s floods in Britain and a tornado which hit Oregon, a major grain producer, in America.

Mark Hastings, from the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “Brewers have been clinging on for the past two years, trying to contain prices, and we have seen consolidation in the market; brewers buying out other brewers to try to contain costs. We have also seen about 2,000 job losses this year.

“But now there is no more to carve out of the business so the only thing we’re able to do is put up prices.”

Anyone who knows anything about beer barrel thefts can call Kegwatch on 0808 1001945 or visit www.kegwatch.co.uk.

wayne.bontoft@northantsnews.co.uk

Taken from: www.northamptonchron.co.uk
By Wayne Bontoft