CO2 shortage?

[bpgreen]

Reuters: Beer may lose its fizz as CO2 supplies go flat during pandemic.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-heal ... ner-Google

[mashani]

Mine won't

I think many breweries that bottle or can their beer won't have any issues with that - I think they mostly capture and re-use the CO2 from brewing for that (if not they are stupid and spending money on something they didn't need to).

I think it's kegged beer that is going to be sad, but nobody in my state right now can even serve kegged beer. The micro breweries that relied on shipping kegs to pubs/bars/restaurants and don't have a significant bottling / store shelf presence are the ones that are hurting the worst here and the lack of CO2 would be the least of their worries, that would be more of a worry for the pubs/bars/restaurants themselves. They are likely going to go under I'm afraid unless stuff changes soon, and the CO2 isn't why since they can't even distribute their beer ATM.

[berryman]

I think my Co2 tank is getting low again and haven't checked on the availability from my supplier, it doesn't matter. As much as I like kegging now, I still know how to bottle and bottle carb. There still will be beer made one way or another.

[Beer-lord]

If you're running low, save the CO2 for pushing the beer out but carb the keg with corn sugar. I don't do that anymore but it does work. It could get you by until you can get your tanks filled.

[FedoraDave]

I'm like Berryman. I prefer to keg, but I've got plenty of bottles if it comes to that. For now, though, I have a pretty healthy CO2 can in the keezer, with a full one in reserve, so I should be good for several months.

[MadBrewer]

I haven't noticed or heard much about it in my area, my LHBS refills for $15. I have been fermenting, naturally carbonating and serving in my kegs for a while now so I just spund at the tail end of fermentation. The last co2 fill I had was last June when I set things all back up at the new house. The one I'm using now might be half gone and I have a full spare on hand. I had a leak for a while a few years ago that I couldn't track down, since fixing that and now spunding I am only using co2 to purge and serve beer, it lasts quite a while.