To remove the shop dependence on beer, the following recipes have been proposed.
I think it should require Potion-making 1 and Master Chef, to imitate the process by which its created.
Purple + Grain = Hops (in master chef pot)
Hooch + Hops (in cauldron)
or something along these lines. Its even possible that Hops could be a new herb that would be grow-able.
Discuss