Beer drinkers in the U.S. could face a looming shortage of suds — but supply chain challenges aren’t completely to blame.
According to Axios, the problem stems from the site of a long-extinct volcano in Mississippi.
The area, known as Jackson Dome, is a major source of carbon dioxide used by brewers.
But gas leaks — potentially due to natural shifts in geology — have reportedly contaminated the reservoir.
The CO2 shortage has forced some companies — particularly craft breweries — to cut back on production or pay much higher prices.
The crisis compounds rising prices for grains, metals and other vital materials for beer-making.
Some brewers, in response, are preparing to switch to nitrogen instead of carbon dioxide.
A few, however, could benefit from earlier efforts to become more environmentally friendly: reusing CO2 captured during the brewing process.