With baby formula still hard to find, the price of gas still relatively high, and inflation through the roof, nobody could blame you for wanting to pop open a cold one and forget your troubles.
However, many brewers agree a beer shortage is coming fast.
The issue is a shortage of an ingredient you might not think about when it comes to your suds: carbon dioxide.
The gas is essential to making the stuff, and it’s becoming scarce for craft brewers after a production hub in Mississippi became contaminated, reports ABC News’ Florida affiliate WZVN-TV.
“CO2 is a critical part of what we do and how we make beer,” says Kyle Cebull, ofFort Meyers-based Millennial Brewing Company. “Without CO2 everything stops.”
Not only can’t you make beer without CO2, you can’t pour it from taps.
Cebull says, “Our provider this morning told me their allocation of CO2 has dropped by 50% and they’re doing about 100 tons a week,” says Cebull.
While it’s not affecting Millennial Brewing yet, other than higher prices from its distributor, other craft brewers are already feeling the pinch.
“A carbon dioxide shortage would be something that is hard to mitigate against and could be a big challenge, not just for breweries but for restaurants, too,” Millennial’s Jennifer Whyte explains.