It’s coming home! Beer back on tap ready for England's World Cup clash
Get in! Football fans are celebrating early today after pubs got their draft beers back on tap – just in time for England.
Wetherspoon’s have had supplies affected by a Europe-wide shortage of CO2 gas in recent weeks, but supplies are due to get back to normal today.
The sweltering weather, World Cup fever and barbecue season have led to a rush on draft beer and sparkling drinks.
Holden’s Brewery in Dudley is still struggling, and bosses think they will be unable to bottle beer until next week.
And Asda has restricted online shoppers to six bottles or multi packs of fizzy drinks.
The shortages of CO2 are understood to have been caused by a longer than usual break in production of ammonia, one of the key sources of food grade CO2 in Europe –which is used to carbonate drinks.
A spokesman for Wetherspoon's said: “A high number of our pubs had been unable to serve three products on draft – John Smith’s, Strongbow, Strongbow Dark Fruits.
"Supplies of these products across all of the company’s pubs is almost back to normal. So, in effect, all getting back to normal and no more issues expected.”
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The good news for football fans came after some pub chains reported they had temporarily run out or were short of John Smith’s, Strongbow, Amstel and Birra Moretti as disruption to supplies of CO2 began to take effect at the bar.
The Wetherspoon's spokesman said pubs that were not able to serve the unavailable drinks still had a choice of 14 other draft, lager, cider and real ale drinks, pointing out that they were “a long, long way from running out of drink”.
Manager of the George Wallis pub in Wolverhampton, Sergio Marques, said his staff were raring to go for the big game tonight – and he has high hopes for the Three Lions.
Sergio himself is Portuguese, but his home team are already out of the World Cup, after losing to Uruguay 2-1 on Saturday.
He said: “I was a bit gutted when Portugal went out, but I really do think England will be in the final.”
Walsall brewery AJs Ales has even created two themed ales for this year’s World Cup – Let’s Get Kane’D and Route 66.
And the St George’s flag is being flown above council offices in Wolverhampton, Stafford, Sandwell and Dudley.
What can possibly go wrong?
What time is England's game on TV?
The last 16 match is tonight with kick-off at 7pm at the Otkritie Arena, Moscow.
The game is being shown on ITV from 6.15pm.
When and who do England play if they beat Colombia?
If England advance to the quarter-finals then they will play on Saturday (July 7) with kick-off at 3pm.
The Three Lions will play either Sweden or Switzerland who also play their last 16 match today.
