Climate Change Calamity: Beer the Next Victim

This truly is grim news. I've been a skeptic for far too long, but this could have serious lifestyle implications.

BEER will be short supply, more expensive and may taste different as climate change affects barley production, a scientist says.

Drought conditions in parts of Australia where malting barley was grown was likely to get worse, according to Jim Salinger of New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

Barley production in the main growing region of Canterbury in New Zealand - where brewing giant Lion Nathan gets about 70 per cent of its malted barley - would also be affected, the New Zealand Press Association said.

"It will mean either there will be pubs without beer or the cost of beer will go up," he said.

Malting barley production in Australia was likely to be hit hard in parts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and NSW.

The dry areas of Australia would become drier and water shortages would get worse.

"It will provide a lot of challenges for the brewing industry," Dr Salinger said.

On the upside, there's apparently no evidence this will affect North American brewing capacity.

Thanks to Hot Air for the link.