The Boston Beer Company announced its version of the bailout package passed by Congress last week. The brewing company will release 20,000 pounds of high-quality German Tettnang Tettnanger hops out of its own cold storage to help save craft brewers around the nation who were hit hard from the 2007 hop crop shortage. (It’s the second year in a row that Jim Koch has opened his storehouse to lend a hand.) These are the same noble hops used in select Samuel Adams beers. Boston Beer will sell the hops at cost with a minimum purchase of 88 pounds and a maximum of 528 pounds per brewer.

So why would the largest craft brewer be basically giving away its coveted hop hoard? Because the company believes that craft brewers help each other out, and it practices what it preaches.

Deadline for submitting order requests is Nov. 10. Look for “Hop Sharing Program” on the home page of www.SamuelAdams.com for complete information.