A shortage of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is used in the production of beer, has local brewers considering potential alternatives.

Due to the sensitivity of craft beer to oxygen, CO2 is used to purge it from tanks during the brewing process.

New Zealand has been dealing with supply issues for CO2 since the closure of the Marsden Point refinery in 2022, and the recent temporary closure of the Kapuni (Taranaki) liquid CO2 processing plant due to safety concerns has exacerbated the situation.

Central Otago Polytechnic brewing course lead Geoff Collie said industry practices need to change to become more sustainable and to avoid shortages in the future.

“If we can’t purchase CO2, we won’t be able to continue to produce beer,” he said. 

“Breweries can have equipment in place that can recover carbon dioxide off the top of their fermentations that liquefy the gas for reuse,” Geoff said, but noted that small breweries can’t always afford to do this. 

“Having said that, there are things that small breweries can do to reduce their CO2 consumption and that’s something I’m starting to think about here as well.”

Matt and Aimee Bell of Manuherikia Brewery

Manuherikia Brewery co-owner Matt Bell told the Central App that he was prepared for the increased cost of grain due to the war in Ukraine, but his decision to stock up on CO2 late last year was down to luck.

“We luckily built up our CO2 late last year in Dunedin so that should keep us going for the next year,” he said.

“At this stage we’re OK. I’ve got five or so big gas bottles, for the next six months to a year. After that - god knows.”

The price of a cold one could spike

RNZ reported this week that beer prices could spike due to the shortage, with Brewers Association executive Dylan Firth saying brewers were quite concerned as they may have to import carbon at a higher price or invest in gas capturing technology.

He was hopeful production of the gas could catch up if Kapuni was not closed for long, RNZ reported.

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