In Germany, the beer industry is experiencing “a second crisis” due to the gas shortage.

World Beer Day, held on August 5th, was not as festive as in previous years. In this time of energy crisis, the most gas-intensive industrial and food sectors risk significantly slowing down their production.

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The federal government has commissioned the Federal Energy Network Agency to classify the areas of activity that are given priority in the event of a gas supply shortage according to their importance for the state’s economy. With beer being an institution in Germany, brewers don’t want to be left out of the list, like Ulrich Biene, spokesman for the Veltins brand.

“We need to know if we have access to the gas we need during malting, the first step in beer production, so that supermarket shelves aren’t suddenly empty.”

Ulrich Biene, Veltins brand spokesman

at franceinfo

“We are past the worst of the crisis with the months of lockdown during the pandemiche explains. The brewing industry and we in particular are sliding from the first crisis into the second.”

Beer consumption in Germany is on the rise again, up 6.5% in the first six months of the year to the delight of Helmut Kurschat, a tall bald man who runs the Südstern microbrewery in Berlin. “Beer will not disappear from the market!”, he assures. But he also complains about the rising prices for all the important raw materials in his industry, grain and energy, which also weigh on transport costs. “It’s getting more expensive and we have to pass the increases on to customers, we have no choice”he is arguing.

A year ago a 40cl glass of lager cost 3 euros 60, today it is 4 euros.

Helmut Kurschat, owner of a microbrewery

at franceinfo

Especially when it comes to glass, the shortage is so great that consumers are asked to return their empty beer to the deposit immediately after drinking it … in moderation, of course.