What's with the price of beer?

The price of a good brew has gone up all over the nation. And OK. I get it. There was a major crop failure of the hops crops in Bavaria two years ago. This represented a major short fall as this state in Germany provides about 35% of the world's supply of this most important beer ingredient.

Then, there was the brutal summer in Russia and the ongoing drought in China that brought down the global supply of grains. Yet another important ingredient of beer.

Finally, there is the greediness factor. When a company like Anheuser-Busch InBev who controls over 48% of the beer market, recent price increases of their cheaper beers to bring them more in line with their more expensive beers were sure to make an impact. And the real crapper is that once prices do go up, it's rare to ever see them drop down again. Even when the supplies of the raw materials increase to more normal levels!

In my mind, however, that did not excuse a local bar, aka the Mug from increasing the price they charge for a glass of beer 25%!! I feel like that is a sure sign of price gouging at a time of flat wages and high unemployment going on in the same area. Well, maybe it's time for me to switch to wine!