Savour a festival and forget the gas!
CARBON dioxide shortage? It’s just a gas! You probably haven’t noticed, but there is a Europewide carbon dioxide (CO2) shortage. So what, you may ask? The problem is that many beers are served by CO2 gas pressure, sometimes combined with nitrogen for Guinness and smoothflow bitters.
Brewers are running low or have run out of products because of the shortage; some have temporarily had to stop brewing and packaging altogether.
Some pubs and bars have been complaining that they cannot receive deliveries of popular beers such as John Smiths Extra Smooth, Amstel Lager and Fosters.
It’s not just the big boys who are affected: one craft brewery was uncertain it could get through the next week, while another has stopped packaging some beers to allow the brewery to continue working.
Obviously, such a situation cannot carry on indefinitely, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time: it’s been sunny and the World Cup is on – perfect conditions for beer sales. The CO2 shortage will not just affect brewers – pubs could feel the impact as a lot of beer and keg cider sales require gas pressure.
Without it, the drink cannot get from the keg into your glass.
The same applies to soft drinks, as they, too, are served using CO2.
Camra’s communications officer, Tom Stainer, points out that drinkers concerned about beer supplies can rest easy because real ales, ciders and perries are unaffected by the shortage, as all are served without using artificial gas pressure.
Real ales are naturally carbonated by a small amount of live yeast left in the cask to cause a natural fermentation that gives the product its life.
In contrast, makers of keg and craft beers and ciders artificially inject CO2 into their products.
If your local pub or bar runs out of your favourite keg bitter, stout, lager or cider, it might be a good time to try the real thing.
FESTIVAL NEWS
The 14th Waterloo Beer Festival runs from Thursday, July 5 to Saturday, July 7 at the Old Christ Church, Waterloo Road, Waterloo.
The festival features 125 real ales, ciders and perries plus gins, spirits, wine and Prosecco (tiny.cc/iqswuy).
Hopfest 2018, Preston Grasshoppers RFC, Lightfoot Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston, from Friday, July 6 to Sunday, July 8.
There will be cask ales, craft beers, cider, gin and Prosecco on offer (www.pgrfc.co.uk).
Southport and West Lancs Camra’s website is at: www. southport.camra.org.uk
Previous articles at: tinyurl. com/vis-pubs