Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-22
War Shortages Cut
Production Of Beer;
Little Relief Seen

| III lIlhllS llNCIS VI ~. OO OIl GIlc SUI .
face the story looks simple:
If Americans drank less beer,
they'd have more beer to drink.
But there's more to the story:
l. Beer production has fallen off.
2. Some brewing sources say be-
tween 20 and Is per cent of the beer
produced Is going to the armed
forces.
3. More people have more money
now than ever before 10 spend on
cooling their threats.
4. Brewers have troubles: Short
ages in corn, hops, even glass bot
ties. Transportation Is another
pain.
That is why the corner storekeeper
sometimes has to tell you: Sorry,
we're all out of it,"
Deliveries Limited.
Beer production may pick up but
on a wide scale brewers nave been
rationing their product to retail
outlets.
Some of the largest breweries have
limited the distance they will deliver
their beer This helps cut the Ma
tons freight load on train and
truck. For that reason, various
areas must use more local brands
than formerly.
The War Food Administration
points out 10 per cent of the Ma
tons beer Is made in States east
of the Mississippi River and north
of North Carolina.
Therefore, that heavy beer
making section would have more
beer than any other section.
But since population in that sec
ton Is densest, supply there may not
always appear so abundant.
South Complains.
The South, VIA says, has been
complaining Of beer shortage for
more than three months.
Beer production in 1942-67, TOO 900
barrels-was the greatest in this
country's history. Until last spring,
l943 production was running 10 per
cent ahead of 1912.
The production drop started in
May. Comparative figures show the
picture: Eleven months from July l.
1912, to May 81, 1885, 445, 457 bar
rels; IL months from July l, 194l, to
May 81, 1942-57,504 58l barrels.
A quick look makes that picture
for 1943 look good: About 5000 900
more barrels in the 1942-43 period
But that doesn't show what recertly
happened when May production
slumped because of causes explained
below:
May, 1943-5, 1884 424 barrels.
April, 1943-5,984187 barrels.
May, 1942-6,157,377 barrels.
April, l942-5,777,69S barrels.
Malt Use Cut.
In March the Government ordered
the Nations 400-odd brewers to cut
the use of malta prime beer in
gredient-7 per cent below last wear
They took that in stride by using
more rice and corn.
But in late spring corn became
less plentiful, farmers finding /.
more profitable to use as a livestock
iced than to sell for industrial use.
This picture may change, but only
time will show it. VIA notes:
The Office of Price Administration
has now placed ceiling on live hog
prices. This may have an effect
on inducing farmers to turn more
corn loose for industrial use. 1t
may not. II it does, beer production
will pick up.
Meanwhile hops, another ingredi-
ent which gives beer its flavor. are
scarce. Beer industry men say
warehouses are about bare of hops.
New Crop Due.
A new crop comes in on the
Pacific Coast in August. There is
no ceiling on hops. This has caused
wrangle, Beer industry men say
their position in hops will improve
If OPA imposes a ceiling.
Because much glass making has
been set aside for home needs
jars for preserving fruits and vege-
tables-beermakers have been al
fected.
In some cities storekeepers re-
fuse to sell bottle of beer with
out return of an empty bottle.