Report: Climate change will threaten beer production

By Caroline McCarthy, CNET news.com

We all know already that climate change will affect everything from food prices to cute baby polar bears.But now it's really hitting home, folks. A report from a researcher at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand suggests that rising temperatures may threaten beer.An Associated Press report details the findings from climate scientist Jim Salinger, who presented his research at the Institute of Brewing and Distilling's annual convention in Wellington, New Zealand. The grim results? Climate change may affect the production of malting barley, an ingredient crucial to the tasty beers we all know and love.If we aren't careful, the regions in Australia and New Zealand in which malting barley can grow could experience some tragic shrinkage. Salinger's study didn't extend beyond those two countries, but he did warn that "similar effects could be expected" across the globe."It will mean either there will be pubs without beer or the cost of beer will go up," the Associated Press article quoted Salinger as saying.One word: Noooooooooooo!