Barley crop crisis triggers beer fear

BEER supplies could be hit by shortages of barley caused by the crop dying in heatwaves sweeping the continent.

European breweries, which supply many of Britain’s pubs, have been struggling to obtain supplies.

The price of a tonne of European malting barley, used to ferment, colour and flavour beer, is at a five-year high of £205 while crop growth is down 50 per cent.

It comes after a shortage of CO2 threatened beer supplies earlier this summer.