WE’RE RUNNING OUT OF BEER!

JOINING the stampede to your local to enjoy a pint again? Good luck with that!

Publicans and brewery owners are worried about how to keep up with customers’ overwhelming thirst for beer, wine and spirits in the face of supply chain issues and staff recruitment problems.

Some pub-goers are already reporting visiting pubs which have sold out of beer.

Richard Whitaker, 36, was supping a pint at the Deviant & Dandy brewery in Hackney, London, but revealed that many pubs he had visited had sold out of ale.

Disappointed

“Two days ago I was at a pub in Deptford, where they sold out of beer. I was disappointed,” he said.

But he wasn’t letting the prospect of a beer shortage spoil his fun.

“I’m having a great time out and about. It’s good to see friends again, I just hope the beer doesn’t run out like the other day,” he said.

According to industry analysts CGA Strategy, the first week of reopening in England saw sales at a similar level to the same week in 2019.

Heineken is said to have limited sales of two of their beers, Birra Moretti and Amstel, restricting supplies to three kegs per pub.

Tayler Connoll, from Deviant & Dandy, said: “The first week we had a brew of pale ale and usually that would last us a couple of weeks.

“Within five days it was all out. We had to get the brewer straight back in again. We don’t want to be a brewery that doesn’t have any beer.”

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “There’s been lots of enthusiasm to return to pubs, which is great news for our sector. It does mean demand has been higher than expected.

“There is still plenty of beer for everyone. Pub-goers can rest assured that they can still visit their local and enjoy a fresh pint.”