Some might consider this a tad bit funny. Others may even consider it as a bit of a lunacy considering the fact that there are other less-trivial things, as some might call it, around. But the fact is that where it stands at present, there’s a shortage of, among other things, beer in a country that drinks it a lot.
Probably if you are someone like a Kim Jong-un, then the shortage of a nuclear stockpile may immediately arrest your attention. For what else will? Similarly, if you are someone like a Vladimir Putin, then facing a situation wherein there’s a shortage or dearth of weapons with which to terrorize the neighbouring Ukraine will perturb you?
But if you are a German- and them Germans… they drink more beer than water, it is said (in lighter vein)- then you will be really concerned by the fact that there’s a shortage of beer.
And guess what? There’s actually some context to it and it merely doesn’t end with the fact that among the most famously-selling T-shirts on the sidewalks and alleys in the country read: Ich Liebe Bier (I love Beer in Germany)!
If you are someone who’s keen to explore the beer-drinking in Berlin, then you’d find that the Berliner Weisse (a cloudy, sour beer) has been around from as early as 16the century. If you go to Dusseldorf, then you’d find that among the most-visited places in the city happen to be the top Altbier breweries (Altbier means old beer in German). Furthermore, if you happen to visit Cologne, or Koln as it’s called, then you will come to discover that Kolsch is another classic beer dedicated to the city. A classic drink that’s actually be brewed since 1906.
Rather tremendously, back in Nuremberg, the historic city renowned for hosting the famous trials back during the conclusion of the Second World War, has witnessed beer since as far as 1303.
Now, how do you tell the countrymen and women of a nation that’s been so eternally entwined with the beer-drinking (as part of culture) that this very beverage is going to be scare in the days to follow?
But regardless of bitterness or animosity or the anxiety that is bound to creep in once the Germans get to actually experience the shortness of drinking beer, the hit, inevitably, will be felt.
Meanwhile, the following inputs were taken from DW.com regarding the current shortage of beer in Germany, something that many feel will truly get worsen in the imminent future:
The shortage of glass bottles will mainly affect small- and medium-sized breweries, an industry expert said.
Brewers are having to pay 80% more for new glass bottles than they did a year ago. The cost of beer is also rising.
One of the reasons behind the shortage is a hike in energy prices which is causing the price of glass bottle production to increase, a glass industry spokesperson told Bild.
In addition, Holger Eichele of the German Brewers’ Federation said a lack of lorry drivers was making it harder to maintain supply chains.
Moreover, going forward, a situation that must also be arrested is the fact that there’s been a rise in the cost of new glass bottles, believe it or not. Yet, nothing’s as worse as the fact that in the course of the immediate future, the cost of beer could well rise by 30 per cent in Germany?