It hasn't been a good summer for beer in Europe. First, the U.K. had to ration beer during the World Cup because of a carbon dioxide shortage, and now brewers are bracing for a barley shortage after a continent-wide heatwave shriveled up the crop, reports Fortune. Some yields might even be as much as 40 percent below average, driving up costs for producers that may be passed down to consumers.
The EU is expected to have a malting barley shortage of nearly 500,000 metric tons. As a result, the price of French barley has shot up by 35 percent since April. The price of gin and whiskey, also made with barley, may shoot up as well. In addition, the weather is putting pressure on potatoes, lettuce, broccoli, peas, and carrots. However, vintners are saying the unusually hot summer will be great for wine, both in terms of quality and quantity, according to the report. Full Story
Related: Fermented Beverages Are on the Rise; US Breweries Hit Record Numbers.
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