Bad news for beer drinkers, a hops shortage has brewers cutting back on the flavor boosting ingredient. But one local brewery has found a way to keep their taps flowing.

They gives beer it's bitter taste, flowery aroma and frothy foam.

"They're one of the three main ingredients, and it is very important," says Ben Anhalt of Opa Opa Brewery.

But hops have been hard to get your hands this brewing season.

"There's a somewhat increased demand and a smaller supply," says Anhalt.

A challenge for small local brewers like Opa Opa, who pride themselves on crafting unique beverages for the true beer connoisseur.

"Craft beer is quite tasty. It has a character of it's own," says beer lover Glenn Coggins.

For lighter varieties like Opa Opa's Red Rock it can take 11 pounds of hops to fill one fermentor, but for specialty styles like the IPA it can take double. That's why this hops shortage has forced the company to change some of its recipes.

"We've reformulated some of our beers to use hops that are more potent and have more bittering flavors," say Anhalt.

But loyal customers say they haven't noticed the change, and that's where microbreweries have the advantage.

Anhalt says, "The craft market is flexible in being able to create new recipes that are still in a craft style."

"If they can keep it very close to what it's been in the past they won't upset their customers," says Coggins.

Customers may be upset when they see their next bar tab. The hops shortage has forced breweries nationwide to raise prices. But true beer lovers say the added expense won't diminish their thirst for quality.