BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!

Subject: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 01:19 PM

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - The price of beer is likely to rise in coming decades because climate change will hamper the production of a key grain needed for the brew - especially in Australia, a scientist warned Tuesday.


Jim Salinger, a climate scientist at New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, said climate change likely will cause a decline in the production of malting barley in parts of New Zealand and Australia. Malting barley is a key ingredient of beer.


"It will mean either there will be pubs without beer or the cost of beer will go up," Salinger told the Institute of Brewing and Distilling convention.


Similar effects could be expected worldwide, but Salinger spoke only of the effects on Australia and New Zealand. He said climate change could cause a drop in beer production within 30 years, especially in parts of Australia, as dry areas become drier and water shortages worsen.


Barley growing parts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales would likely be harder hit than growing areas in New Zealand's South Island.


"It will provide a lot of challenges for the brewing industry," even forcing breweries to look at new varieties of malt barley as a direct result of climate change, Salinger said.


New Zealand and Australian brewer Lion Nathan's corporate affairs director Liz Read said climate change already was forcing up the price of malted barley, sugar, aluminium and sugar.


Read said that in addition to climate change, barley growers are grappling with competition from other forms or land use, such as the dairy industry.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: gnu
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 01:23 PM

Fortunately, I drink (Canadian) Bud.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 01:29 PM

Fortunately, I drink (Canadian) Bud.

Post that into the "So many disagreemants and controversies..." thread and see what happens.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 01:31 PM

Well it looks like drinking cider is OK. They make some wicked ciders in Godzone. (NZ)

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 01:42 PM

Oh FLIP!!! I NEW this was gonna happen! Flip me.

Good flippin' thing it is gonna hit flippin' Awstraylia first, eh? That measn we still got some time to perepare in Canada.

Geez. I gotta talk to Don and see how we can get hold of enuff flippin' beers to ride this thing out.

I figger we are gonna need...like...well, at least a hunnert thousand bottles of beer in a sceret stash that nobody don't know about. Except us.

That will not be easy, eh? We gotta get started on this right flippin' AWAY before a lot of other people do.

Flip me.

- Shane

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 02:00 PM

Fortunately, I drink (Canadian) Bud.

You have NO idea how good I feel about that. If you didn't drink it we might see more of it over here in the UK.

Heaven forfend........LOLOL

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Ernest
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 02:00 PM

That will be the day when "A pub with no beer" is more typical for Australia than "Waltzing Matilda"....

Regards
Ernest (who doesn`t wish to say G`day right now)

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Peace
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 02:02 PM

The Pub With No Beer

1. Well, the publican's anxious for the quota to come,
    There's a faraway look on the face of the bum,
    The maid's gone all cranky and the cook's actin' queer -
    What a terrible place is a pub with no beer!

cho: Oh, it's lonesome away from your kindred and all
    Round a campfire at night, where the wild dingoes call
    But there's nothin' so lonesome, so morbid or drear
    As to stand in the bar of a pub with no beer.

2. The stockman rides in with his dry, dusty throat,
    Goes up to the bar, pulls a wad from his coat,
    But the smile on his face quickly turns to a sneer
    When the barman says suddenly, "The pub's got no beer!"

3. There's a dog on the verandah, for his master he waits,
    But the boss is inside, drinkin' wine with his mates,
    He hurries for cover and he cringes in fear,
    It's no place for a dog, not a pub with no beer!

4. Then in comes the swagman, all covered with flies,
    He throws down his roll, wipes the sweat from his eyes,
    But when he is told he says, "What's this I hear?
    I've trudged fifty flamin' miles to a pub with no beer!"

5. Oh, pity the blacksmith - first time in his life
    He's gone home cold sober to his darlin' wife
    He walks in the kitchen; she says, "You're early, my dear,"
    Then he breaks down and he tells her that the pub's got no beer.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: irishenglish
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 02:04 PM

Well considering that here in New York City the price for a 6 pack from a corner bodega fluctuates like the stock market, I think there's already some economic factors at play. $12 for one six pack in some places! Sure, you can go to the one right next door and pay maybe $9, but it wasn't that long ago when I could expect lower end beers like Bud to be $6 or $7, and now they are more. It's also pissing me off that some pubs here are charging $6-6.50 for a "pint". Only thing is, it is not an official pint, they put it in a smaller pint glass to fool people I think! Well, at least my local knows the difference.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: artbrooks
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 06:15 PM

$6 or $7 for a six-pack of Bud? I think that comes under the heading of illegal price gouging...or maybe improper disposal of hazardous waste...here in New Mexico. I pay $7 for a six-pack of Stella Artois.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 06:15 PM

Great lyrics, Peace! You have not lost your touch, I can see that. Have you got a good tune for it too?

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 07:01 PM

Four dollars a pint, for Grog at the local brewery. Lager's $3.00 per pint.

Prices at the store range from about $3.00/six pack for horse pee up to about $12 for that fancy-schmancy imported stuff. I generally go for the $6.00/six pack stuff like Moose Drool or Bitch Creek.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 07:04 PM

How about Old Mare's Sweat? Can you get that in Idaho?

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: skipy
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 07:45 PM

We must stop growing food & concentrate on beer production!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Peace
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 07:48 PM

LH, that's not mine. I wish it was. It was done (first time I heard it) by a bunch of guys from newfoundland. Then I saw the Slim Dusty version. That one is from the DT mirror.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Peace
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 07:56 PM

My apologies, btw. I thought the song was so well known that I needn't say it wasn't mine. I've never written anything that good in my life. (And thank you for that very kind statement, LH, because I've seen some of your writing and in the parlance, "y'ain't no slouch" with a pen.)

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 08:03 PM

Peace - I saw the song you posted, and remembered hearing it sung many years ago at the Herga folk club (and joining in the chorus).

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 08:12 PM

Thanks fir tippin' me off, LH...

I gotta a 100 foot long pig barn that I been wonderin' what to do with and now I have my answer...

...a brewery...

Yazzir, "Boberdz Brew"... Nectar of the Gods...

But until then as long as I xan get a case of Iron City fir 'bout ten bucks I'll keep the plan on hold...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Peace
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 08:30 PM

Hi, Kitty. I think it's a great song. But I have no idea who wrote it.

Subject: Song Challenge! World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Genie
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 08:55 PM

Peace, you beat me to the punch. I was gonna say this topic should be a Song Challenge!
And then it could be moved to the Music section. But you were, wonderfully, one step ahead.

Now if we can just get Joe or a clone to move it up above the line and add "Song Chalenge!" to the title.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Rapparee
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 09:38 PM

Let's see. What beers I am sure I can buy (besides things like Budweiser).

Polygamy Porter, Provo Girl, Bitch Creek, Moose Drool, Fat Tire, Cutthroat, Firehouse (several sorts, including IPA), Blue Moon, Dead Guy, Guinness, Harp, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, Midnight Satin, Grog, Widmer, Full Sail, Black Butte, Cascade, BridgePort, MacTarnahan, Pyramid, Hefeweizen, Red Rock, Trout Slayer, Alaskan Amber, and a whole bunch more. Please note that this lists only the US beers; I haven't even started on the Canadian, Asian, Australian, and European beers.

Not even the late "Shane" McBride could have drunk all of them.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Beer
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 10:02 PM

Had me worried there for a bit. A world with out beer will never happen. Not in my time anyway.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Emma B
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 10:08 PM

A PUB WITH NO BEER
(Gordon Parsons)
Slim Dusty - 1957
Ted Egan - 1976
The Clancy Brothers - 1988
Midnight Oil - 1988
Also recorded by: Adge Cutler & The Wurzels;
The Dubliners; Danny O'Flaherty; Hamish Imlach.

tune if you can cope :)

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Genie
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 10:40 PM

Surely the 'Catters can come up with some updated verses too? ; )

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Beer
Date: 09 Apr 08 - 11:20 PM

I've tried the Malt Beer,
Since the wheat is all gone.
But it don't taste as good,
So I'll have to be strong.
I've given some thought,
And I hope you agree.
That the Moonshine will have to replace the Barley.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Ernest
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 07:28 AM

Skipy, you are not quite correct. It is

Hops instead of tobacco!

;0)
Ernest

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: gnu
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 12:04 PM

Thief or hero?

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 12:58 PM

That guy is Shane and Don's greatest hero. He did what they have always wanted to do. He should receive the Order of Canada, eh?

Shane has tried several times to get a job driving a beer delivery truck, but they always turned him down. He has also applied to work at a local brewery. No dice.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: gnu
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 02:55 PM

Well, a clean abstract for a minimum of five years is usually a requirement to drive any commercial vehicle. Now, if he has a DUI(s?), that would be grounds for refusal... ESPECIALLY for a beer truck!

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 03:09 PM

There are so many grounds for refusal in Shane's case that it is laughable that he would even try...

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 03:17 PM

Thanks Emma B, that's exactly the tune I remember singing the chorus to!

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: michaelr
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 03:31 PM

It's not just the barley - I've heard there's a hop shortage as well!

AAAAAAARRGHH!!!

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: GUEST,Sapper going down Beatock on the Up Main
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 04:41 PM

Looks like I'd better stock up on the homebrew kit.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 05:50 PM

I remember that the Pearl brewery in San Antonio made a pretty good beer based on rice- but now that seems to be in short supply as well.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 05:58 PM

Time for a commercial for the Big Rock Brewery in Calgary, maker of unpasteurized ales and beers.
Grasshöpper, XO Lager, Honey Brown, Jackrabbit, Warthog, Pale, McNally's Extra, Black Amber.

All great!

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 08:40 PM

Surely, to call Budweiser drink "beer" contravene the Trades Descriptions Act?
Maidswater might be a better description of it.
Colyn.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 08:50 PM

Ah, you can make beer out of 'most anything:

Spinach
Kale
Rhubarb
Amaranth
Tapioca
Cassava
Yams
Maize
Dandelion seeds
Grass
Broccoli
Turnips
Dead leaves
Parsnips
Pond scum
Kelp
etc.

Let me know how it tastes.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Joe_F
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 09:13 PM

I am delighted to see in Wikipedia that Ballarat ale is back. When do you suppose it will reach New England?

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 09:27 PM

See? What did I say? Here's an ale made from ballarats.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Beer
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 09:52 PM

The way this beer crises is going were going to be drinking dog piss pretty soon. Or one or Rapaire's recipes like "Pond Scum"

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 10 Apr 08 - 11:08 PM

Rapaire said "Ah, you can make beer out of 'most anything"

It is well known that Bud recycles the kidney extract of those big Clydesdales. I suppose that is good for the environment.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Escapee
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 01:01 AM

I do a magic trick in the men's room. I turn Guinness into Bud Lite. No shortage of that.
SKP

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Gervase
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 02:54 AM

All grain products are on the verge of a major shortage in the coming year. Feed prices for my pigs and sheep have gone up by 25 per cent over the past nine months and fertiliser prices have almost doubled in a year - to the point where I'm thinking of giving up because it's not economic to raise the animals now. Deadweight prices are now far lower than the cost of rearing the beasts, and - contrary to popular belief - there is no subsidy safety-net for small-scale producers.
As for why; the reasons are two-fold. One is the massively increased demand for fertiliser and feedstuffs from China and India, and the other is the drive for biofuels in the USA, which cuts down on cereal production and ups the fertiliser demand.
My local merchant usually has an annual allocation of 4,500 tonnes of fertiliser from the wholesaler/distributor. This year they were told they could expect just 650 tonnes initially, with maybe more to come.
I've been lucky enough to secure a tonne to pep up my pasture, but that cost me twice last year's price.
Believe me, beer isn't the half of it. You ain't seen nothing yet!

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: theleveller
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 03:22 AM

Maybe we should recycle beer, as in a piece of graffiti I saw in a pub loo some years ago: 'You don't buy Watneys beer, you only rent it'.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: gnu
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 05:06 AM

Escapee... hahahahahahaha... best one yet about the Bud.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: goatfell
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 06:46 AM

I don't drink any beer or spirits at all I'm a teatotaller so I could care less hic!

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 11 Apr 08 - 02:37 PM

Almost on topic, the Brewing Museum in Burton on Trent is also at risk, as in threatened with closure shortly.....


Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: quokka
Date: 12 Apr 08 - 05:57 AM

Stan Rogers wrote a great beer drinking song, it's a parody of Barrett's Privateers, about his brother's home brew, I think it's called 'Garnett's Home made Brew'

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: alanabit
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 03:33 AM

I have only just come across this seriously disturbing news. I'll be back with some brilliant ideas - when my hangover has receded...

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Folkiedave
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 05:50 AM

Will this shortage effect gin? Tonic?

Thatcher was wrong (again) there is an alterantive.

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Seán Báite
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 06:28 AM

Gervase - yeah, always had the feeling those bio-fuels were a load of codswallop and what you say does nothing to
change my opinion. Depriving people in the developing world of food is bad enough - but depriving us bloated Westerners of
our beer !!! That's going too far...
Just hope that world beer supplies can hold out slightly longer than my liver and spleen...

On a similar topic to Gnu's link (it won't open for me, but I can guess what it's about) - I think we should all pass our
HGV licences, fill up with good old diesel and follow the example of this fellow :
Christmas Shopping - Dublin Style

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Seán Báite
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 06:32 AM

Actually, maybe we should be a bit more selective than the fella in question - on re-reading the report - it seems that 40% of what he 'borrowed' was completely undrinkable (Dundalk-brewed bubble-gum beer piss)

Subject: RE: BS: World Beer supply at risk!!!!!!!!
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 13 Apr 08 - 12:11 PM

I wonder if the beer supply in the world will be as great a shortage as water already is in some countries?