In a terrific gesture of solidarity and community, Jim Koch of the Boston Beer Co. announced yesterday that he would be making available to small brewers, twenty tons of aroma hops at his cost in an effort to help out the hop-strapped craft industry. They’re calling it the Hop Sharing Program, and making it available to brewers in need. There’s more information at the Samuel Adams website, click on the hop sharing icon to find out more details.

Koch explained the idea on the Brewer’s Forum, a online trade forum run by the Brewers Association in Boulder, Colorado.

So we looked at our own hops supplies at Boston Beer and decided we could share some of our hops with other craft brewers who are struggling to get hops this year. We’re offering 20,000 pounds at our cost to brewers who need them. Specifically, we are able to spare 10,000 pounds of East Kent Goldings from Tony Redsell, a top English grower featured by Michael Jackson in Michael Jackson’s Beer Companion (page 75 has a picture) and 10,000 pounds of the German Noble hop Tettnang Tettnanger from small farms in the Tettnang region in Germany.

Boston Beer will be selling the hops at their cost, plus a modest amount for shipping, to any brewer who really needs them. As Koch explains.

The purpose of doing this is to get some hops to the brewers who really need them. So if you don’t really need them, please don’t order them. And don’t order them just because we’re making them available at a price way below market. Order them because you need these hops to make your beer. We’re not asking questions, so let your conscience be your guide.

We hope this will make brewing a little easier for those hardest hit by the hop shortage.

What a truly beautiful show of support for the industry as a whole. It’s times like these that showcase how supportive the craft beer industry is of one another. It restores one’s faith in humanity.

Jim Koch, flanked by two Longshot winners, Lili Hess and Rodney Kibzey, during a reception at last year’s GABF. Cheers, indeed, Jim.