Beer Prices to Rise in Germany

German beer-drinkers, it seems, might soon have to put up with price rises on their favorite tipple.

The German Brewers' Union are citing rises in costs which they can no longer offset with savings in other areas.  Malt prices have risen 84%, prices for hops have doubled, glas prices increased 30% and electricity around 23%.

Price increases of around 5-10% are to be expected on beer in the new year.  Furthermore, the German Breweries have predicted that beer prices will rise around 40% in the next 5 years.  Still, the starting point for these price increases is not so high in Germany as elsewhere in the world - a half-litre in a pub costs on average 2.66 EUR (about $3.60)